Second Helpings (by Megan McCafferty)

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?

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.