Bass Ackwards and Belly Up
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 15. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Girls take a year off for plenty of iffy behavior.
Why We Rated This
for Ages 15–17
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Bass Ackwards and Belly Up
Parents need to know that this book follows three best friends as they "commit the ultimate suburban sin" and forgo college in favor of a gap year. (A fourth friend sticks with higher education, mainly to be on the ski team.) There is a strong emphasis on looks and fashion, with many mentions of high-end brands such as Seven jeans. Product references are ubiquitous; for example, characters don't drink bottled water; they drink Fiji water. One young woman has a one-night stand but this is presented as OK because "for whatever reason, she felt safe" with him. A character confronts her fears after being mugged and beaten.
Read our full review by Stephanie Dunnewind
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about what it means to follow one's dreams. Some teens feel like they are on a conveyor belt, doing what is expected rather than what they really want. Should parents support a year off, or push for college because they know that is beneficial for the future? Did parents want to do something different before they chose the career they are in? Families can also talk about expectations for sexual experiences. Why were two of the young women in the book disappointed by their first time having sex?

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