Common Sense Note
Parents need to know there isn't much here to worry about beyond some kissing, light swearing (like "crap"), and a few product names. Also, the girls put up fake information on a social networking site.
Families can talk about the fake profile that Vivi and Lane create for "Brandon." How easy is it to fake information on a social networking site? Do you believe most of what you read on sites like MySpace? This would be a good time for parents to remind their kids about Internet safety (including your rules about who they can be friends with -- and who they can meet offline). For more information, visit our Internet safety guide.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kate Pavao
OK, so the premise feels like an '80s romantic comedy: Two girls invent their friend's dream guy on the Internet -- then have to hire a real guy to impersonate him. But even if you take this over-the-top wackiness aside, you still have a pretty predictable book with scripted and not-very-likable characters.
Instead of Vivi, Lane, and Isabelle, the characters could be named The Pushy One, The Mousy One, and The Romantic. Readers will have the most trouble finding anything likable about obnoxious and controlling Vivi -- rather than the fact that she really is trying to do something nice for Isabelle when she comes up with her silly scheme.
The author does throw in a few twists at the end (Vivi's brother Marshall seems perfect for Isabelle -- until he tells her he's gay). But even then, readers will know that the three protagonists will find their true loves -- and remember what they love about each other -- before the book's conclusion.
From The Book
"Wait a minute! That's it!" Vivi announced suddenly.
All the tiny hairs on the back of Lane's neck stood on end. "What? What's it?"
"A fake!" Vivi whirled around, her eyes bright. She grabbed the arms of the chair and twirled Lane toward her. "We'll make up a guy for Isabelle on MySpace! Someone who will totally take her mind off that Skeezoid Sluttig."
Plot Summary:
Isabelle is obsessed with prom, so when her boyfriend dumps her right before the big dance she's devastated. Her best friends Vivi and Lane want to make her feel better, so they create a fake MySpace profile for Isabelle's dream guy. They don't expect that Isabelle will actually fall for him -- or that they'll soon be searching for a guy willing to impersonate "Brandon," and take Isabelle to the prom. And that's just the beginning of the mayhem.
Related Books:
Also by Kate Brian:
Private
Other Books Featuring Prom:
If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor
Jinx by Meg Cabot
Boy Toy by Barry Lyga
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Sexual ContentSome kissing. |
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Violence |
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LanguageSome light swearing, like "crap" or "slut." |
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Social BehaviorGirls put up fake information on a social networking site. |
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CommercialismRalph Lauren, Pepsi, XBox, movies like The Holiday and Lord of the Rings. |
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