Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty

Review

Common Sense Media says

Sweet core, despite drugs and sex references.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

AGE
9
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that drinking, casual sex, and drug use are presented as common teen behaviors; in two cases, parents give teens glasses of wine. Girls deal with boys calling them demeaning names and treating them as sex objects. The 16-year-old main character is a straight-A student with a good attitude. The author weaves brand names throughout the story, from soda drinks to cars to types of wine.

  • Positive messages0
    Main character is a skateboarding valedictorian who loves to read. She won't act stupid just to get a boy's attention. Bad-girl Amber hides a (good) secret. Teens lie to their parents. Geena calls her dad's new girlfriend a bimborama and bimbocile. A group of girls get revenge on a boy. The girls serve a disgusting drink to a rude patron at the coffee shop.
  • Violence3
    Threatened fight between boys at a fast-food restaurant.
  • Sex3
    Many sexual references, including a character's nickname (Blowjob Beezie) and boys calling girls "cock tease" and "ho." The girls attend a "pimps and hos" party wearing "whoring clothes" and "hoochie-mama dance grooves." "Every female wants to do" a handsome boy. Geena thinks she is the "only sophomore-nearly-junior on the planet who hasn't been to third base." One boy tells another, "Suck this" and grabs his crotch. A character's sister sleeps with her older married professor. Topless pictures taken with a cell phone are posted on MySpace. Additional references to orgies, beer sluts, and exchanging sexual favors for crack.
  • Language3
    The language is most offensive when boys use derogatory sexual terms to insult girls ("p---y," "c--t," "bitch"). Other language includes "sucks ass," "phone pole up her butt," "s--t," "t-ts," "pissed," "pimps," "hos," and "f--k off."
  • Consumerism3
    Much of the book involves buying coffee drinks. Lots of products are mentioned by name: iPod, MySpace, YouTube, specific cars, types of wines, fast food chains, soda drinks, and clothing designers.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    A party includes rooms for "smoking, thizzing, Jell-O shots, and sixty-nine" lots of drinking (champagne, Crantini, Screwdriver, Cuba Libre, sangria). Characters get drunk and puke. References bong hits, THC, dropping acid, and sniffing Wite-Out. One social group is called the "stofers" for stoner-surfers. Parents drink ("got a little wasted on red wine") and serve wine to teens. One boy has a fake ID. A character smokes a cigarette.
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What's the story?

Sixteen-year-old Geena plans to spend her summer working at the Triple Shot Betty coffee shack, skateboarding, and hanging out with her best friend Amber and her favorite cousin Hero. The girl bonding doesn't go so well, though, so Geena has plenty to fill her diary: friends who hate one another; a flaky, divorced dad; and Ben, her long-time but very cute academic nemesis and potential crush.

Is it any good?

 

The book's Sonoma Valley estate setting and casual references to blow jobs and thizzing might lead some to think this is Gossip Girl, California-style. Wrapped in a sometimes raunchy exterior, though, is a sweet core, grounded by its authentic first-person narrator. Even its resident bad-girl, Amber, turns out to have an innocent secret.

Geena is smart, funny, and not afraid to flip off boys who hassle her while she is skateboarding. She avoids "indulging in normal teen activities, like drinking beer, smoking bud, and having sloppy sex in parking lots." She explores the line between feeling sexy on her own terms and feeling exploited by boys. A kiss is still romantic. While the handsome villain -- and his comeuppance -- are a bit over the top, teens will enjoy the grrl power ending.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about whether there is a double standard for boys' and girls' reputations. How do teens decide which rumors are true? Do teens think "everyone" is drinking, having sex, and smoking pot? Families can also discuss how easy it is to post cell-phone pictures on the Internet. Do you know anyone who has been embarrassed by photos posted of them?

This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
Teen, 15 years old
February 24, 2011
AGE
12
 
good for learning purposes
I read this book when i was 12 and i really enjoyed it. It DOES send positive messages if the reader interpretes it well. Its pretty accurate and is a good story for a young teen to read. Parents need to stop being so over protective because kids need to make mistakes and learn from them. And although my parents don't know it, ive already been exposed to sexual activities and know lots of ppl who arent virgins and i even had a crush on a guy who turned out to be a pot dealer(i know how bad drugs are so i left him alone all together).
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Teen, 17 years old
May 25, 2010
AGE
2
 
this book is surprisingly better than it looks, and even sounds. now im going to try to say this with out ruining the book... there arent very good role modles in this AT ALL. thats my only big concern...other wise enjoy. plus this book gives good life lessons, you can learn from the characters mistakes!
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Helped me decide (12) | Had useful details (12) | Read my mind (9)
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Parent of 14 and 17 year old
March 11, 2010
AGE
15
 
Not for me and not for middle schoolers
Not for middle schoolers. Very mature themes -- or actually immature themes -- of partying, casual sex, fighting, etc. This is one we won't buy for our middle school library.
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Helped me decide (11) | Had useful details (12) | Read my mind (10)
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Teen, 14 years old
August 12, 2010
AGE
12
 
too much mention of sex
ummmm....a bit sexual....but its still a great book!
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Helped me decide (11) | Had useful details (7) | Read my mind (9)
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Adult
August 6, 2010
AGE
2
 
no literary value
This book is full of everything we try so hard to keep our students out of!
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Helped me decide (10) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (8)
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This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
Author:Jody Gehrman
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Friendship
Publisher:Dial Books
Publication date:April 17, 2008
Number of pages:255
Hardcover price:$16.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):13 - 17
Read aloud:15
Read alone:15
This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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