Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape)
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that in this sequel to Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend, a central plot is about Belle dealing with her best friend's pregnancy -- and her own decision to have sex with her boyfriend. There is some language, and a mean girl tries to humiliate Belle by spreading nasty rumors.
Families can talk about sequels. What is the appeal of returning to the same character -- both for readers and for writers? Can you think of other protagonists you would like to see an author return to?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kate Pavao
Belle is definitely working on some intriguing problems: How do you support a pregnant friend? Why doesn't her dreamy boyfriend seem to want to have sex with her? Even her more subtle problems will intrigue readers: Why does she always try to explain everything that everybody does? Is she secretly very selfish?
The problem here is the same as in Jones' first installment: In the middle of her intriguing plot and striking writing, she dumps all the quirky small-town characters. For starters, there's Belle's duct tape-obsessed boyfriend, and her best friend who takes photos constantly so she won't forget anyone. These contrived characters deplete any connection that readers might feel for Belle or the people she cares about. Fans of the first Belle installment might find enough to like here. Everyone else might as well skip this volume -- and hope that Jones moves on to another town for her next writing adventure.
From The Book
"You're going to have the baby?"
She nods. Tears come to her eyes but her mouth is a line, a determined straight line. About our heads is a jet trail that is just as straight.
"You don't want to think about it?"
"Sometimes people just know what they're meant to do," she says.
Emily has already decided what chords she is going to play.
A million questions rush through my head like what she'll do about college, what she'll tell her mom, what she'll tell Shawn. But I know Em, and I know she doesn't really have those answers yet.
Plot Summary:
This book takes place where the first installment, Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend, left off: Belle is in her senior year of high school, still having to deal with her gay ex boyfriend, a mean girl who has it in for her, and a strange neighbor, who is trying to make up for attacking her at school (which left him expelled but still her neighbor). What's more, she also discovers that her best friend is pregnant -- just as she and her own boyfriend think they might be ready to take their relationship to the next level. And she is having seizures again.
Related Books:
Also by Carrie Jones:
Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend
Other Books about Teen Pregnancy:
Slam by Nick Hornby
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
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Sexual ContentBelle recalls sex with her ex, and nearly has sex with her new boyfriend. She buys condoms for her friends -- and later a pregnancy test when her best friend thinks she's pregnant. |
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ViolenceBelle is recovering from an attack at school from a confused former friend. She also hears that friend being abused by his father. |
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LanguageSome, like "hell," "crappy," "bitch," and "slut." |
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Social BehaviorA mean girl torments Belle. She supports her friend who is pregnant and still in high school. |
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