 | 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. |
Second Helpings
- By Megan McCafferty
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Readers will devour fun, surprisingly rich sequel.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book contains plenty of raunchy language and mature sexual material, including Jessica Darling's "lust" for her writing teacher, heavy public displays of affection at school from a class couple, and the narrator's own first time.
What's the story?
After a summer writing camp, Jessica Darling returns to her high school with a new goal: to free herself from her New Jersey suburb and attend college at New York City's Columbia University.
But first she has to survive a senior year seeing Marcus, her ex-love, fake popular girls, and a surprising break-up. She's also censored by the school administration for a controversial editorial, and must face the release of a fictional book written by an undercover student and based on her school (including a character very much like her). The events of Sept. 11, 2001 and parental pressure even threaten her big city dream. Will Jessica be brave enough to go after what she wants?
Is it any good?
Readers who didn't catch Jessica Darling in her debut (Sloppy Firsts) may have trouble catching up here, but they still will find this book a fast, fun read with an important message about listening "to your inner voice when it speaks up." It's easy to relate to funny, smart Jessica, whose list and e-mails to her best friend pack personality into her senior year confessional. Readers may not believe her '80s fascination, but they will enjoy her self-deprecation, and her smart insights about high school life and growing up. Other characters, while often stereotypical (the jerky jock, the shallow popular girls), add humor and prove what "an outsider among the insiders" she truly is.
The plotting is straightforward, and careful readers should be able to guess what happen to star-crossed Jessica and Marcus, where she will go to school -- and even who is writing the snarky gossip column. But readers will still enjoy cheering her on along the way.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the sexual attitudes presented, and how they match up with your teen's point of view. Does it seem like a rare thing to be a virgin while a senior in high school, as Jessica is? She discusses the pros and cons of abstinence-only education with other classmates. What's your opinion?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
this book was great!
ive never felt more liker her. i know exactly where shes coming from. the worrys of getting in to college from boys and snotty girls. i can so relate. i would so tell ppl to read this book. kids like 15+ because there are some sexual things in it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
this book is awesome!!!!!!!
this book is an awesome book... it basically tells life as it is... theres nothing irrelevant in this book that a teen shouldnt know... it is pretty much a part of life that almost every girl goes through... and boys as well... i recommend this book to anybody that is mature enough to understand what life is all about in the real world... in the eyes of a girl...
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Very Relateable
As a senior in high school, it seems like I know just what Jessica Darling is going through. Her self esteem, love, and friend issues are bigger than just the book. They happen in real life and I, as well as many high school kids, can relate to Jessica's struggles.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
*******
Jessica Darling is just your average teenager, well besides her ivy league smartness. I think that McCafferty deals with a lot of real teen issues that are happening today. I think it would be beneficial for all teens to read this. And whether parents would like to admit it or not, these things are happening at ages as young as 11 or 12. I recommend this for readers thirteen and up, but not because of the minor drug use or the profanity, or even the sexual mentions. The reason i picked the age 13 and up is simply because i think that some of McCafferty's humor would be wasted and would go over some childrens heads. (Note: I'm not saying all because there are some very sophisticated pre-teens out there.)
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Megan McCafferty |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Three Rivers Press |
| Publication date: | April 22, 2003 |
| Number of pages: | 368 |
| Paperback price: | $11.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 15 |
| Read alone: | 15 |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
