 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Audrey, Wait!
- By Robin Benway
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Good lesson on fame's price, but iffy content too.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the main character has sex with her boyfriend, who also smokes pot. She drinks alcohol and makes out with a rock star after a concert. She lies to her parents but has a mostly affectionate relationship with them. The family spends time together and she respects their opinion of her.
What's the story?
Audrey breaks up with her slacker boyfriend Evan, the lead singer for The Do-Gooders. When he calls out, "Audrey, wait!" she pretends not to hear him. Then she can't stop hearing it: Evan writes a catchy song about their split called "Audrey, Wait!" that tops the charts. Suddenly Audrey is famous and her regular life -– dishing ice cream at the Scooper Dooper, taking care of her extremely fat cat ("not so much a cat as a hair ball the size of a suitcase"), and going to concerts with her best friend, Victoria. She's on display and up for comment on the Internet and the paparazzi make it difficult for her to date her cute co-worker. Audrey has to decide what defines her: Is it the media-created celebrity, or her true self?
Is it any good?
Teens will relate to Audrey's first-person voice, which includes plenty of swearing and eye-rolling at grown-ups ("Never let on to your parents that you know more about drugs than they do. It will only end badly.") Even readers who wouldn't pass Audrey's test for friends (no poseurs, must love VERY loud music and recognize bands like The Cure) will admire her strong personality and enjoy her sense of humor. Benway finds a nice balance of sounding slang-y without relying too heavily on phrases that will become rapidly passé.
Audrey struggles with strangers judging her by what they've read or seen on the Internet: "I'm a nice girl! I'm not a slut! I feed stray cats!" When she can't cope alone, she turns to her parents for support; they promise to stand behind her "one hundred and ten percent." Audrey's final resolution seems a little contrived but the ending will satisfy readers.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how they would react to accidental fame. Would they enjoy the perks or chafe at the loss of privacy? Audrey notes other teens her age have a 10 p.m. curfew; hers is 2 a.m. How did she work out a compromise with her parents, and is it a good one?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
A lesson on Fame
This book was too much of a cliche. I'd advise any of you to pick up a CSI book.
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Teen, 15 years old
February 3, 2011
AGE
Definite page-turner!
It's a great book, but some parts are pretty inappropriate for kids under.... 13?
What other families should know:
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Teen, 14 years old
January 24, 2011
AGE
Lovee It!
I love this book!!! It's perfect for middle schoolers particularly 7th and 8th grade! The book sure has some drug and sexual parts but its what keeps the reader excited about what may happen next! I love how the chapters are a lyric to songs! This book is amazing!
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Teen, 14 years old
December 4, 2010
AGE
great book for teens
I love this book, although has some inappropriate language and parts for younger ages.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
March 11, 2010
AGE
Pretty ordinary with a unlikely twist!
Well, Audrey is a normal gurl but get things she dosent want for example... fame!
What other families should know:
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| Author: | Robin Benway |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | Razorbill |
| Publication date: | April 10, 2008 |
| Number of pages: | 320 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 12 - 12 |
| Read alone: | 12 - 12 |
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