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ttfn (by Lauren Myracle)

common sense media says

Edgy sequel written in IM messages may appeal to teens.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this sequel to TTYL is again written entirely in IM text-message form. It has plenty of "teachable moments." Again, the girls freely and frankly discuss their sex and party lives, giving the book a real ring of authenticity. Booklist says these books are appropriate for kids in 10-12th grades for a reason: they talk about experimentation with sex, drugs, and the love dramas that characterize the high school experience. Mature readers will find the antics relatable, but kids who are not as socially advanced might wrestle with some of what's discussed. But there's nothing in here they won't already have heard about by the time they get to high school, including a variety of controversial topics, such as the pressure to smoke pot, parents with drinking problems, and exploring sexual feelings for the first time. A girl gets busted buying marijuana, another gets caught in bed with a boy, and a third takes a cross-country bus trip without telling anyone. Parents are at times portrayed as poor role models, but this book gives real parents a great way to get into discussing some touchy subjects without prying into their own kids' personal lives.

Educational value: Teens reading this book will be able to find teachable moments in some of the experiences the book describes. See our "Families Can Talk About" sections for some ideas for topics you might want to bring up with your kids.
Positive messages: Teens will relate to the drama and will probably learn how not to handle certain situations (drunk dialing, for example, is never a go-to strategy for dealing with love interests). This is a warts-and-all presentation, and while not an "inspirational" set of messages, certainly the book contains lessons. 
Positive role models: These girls are not exactly positive role models for kids. But they aren't supposed to be. Instead, they are pretty true-to-life portraits of teens who are sexually active and who like to party. Parents are discussed by girls as drinkers and poor role models. Ultimately, this a funny book about love and friendship.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: This is pretty no-holds-barred -- after all it's teen girls talking honestly. They discuss kissing, fondling, oral sex, being naked in bed with boys, masturbation. Discussion of flirtation between a male teacher and students.
Language: This is a book written in Instant Message form. To be true and credible, dialogues contain crude language including exclamations of" f--k," etc..
Consumerism: The girls address specific clothing stores and types of dress.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Experimentation with drugs is a common theme in teen literature. One character experiments with pot. She also is picked up by police for buying. Her parents are drinkers and admit to trying pot themselves.

More on ttfn

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about censorship. Some people have wanted to ban this series from libraries and schools. Why do you think that is so? Do you feel anyone has the right -- besides you or your parents -- to determine what is right for you? 
  • Why do you think the author wrote the book in IM text?
  • The girls spend most of their time discussing boys, sex, drugs and little about homework, tests, or any positive extracurricular activities. Do you think they are positive role models? Are they meant to be?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Angela's father loses his job and uproots the family to California. Meanwhile, Maddie hooks up with a guy from another school who has another love interest but fools around with her on the side (he also introduces her to pot, and she manages to get busted for buying). Finally Zoe, the stereotypical good girl, gets involved with a male co-worker, who formerly had a crush on Angela. Fighting ensues between the girls. But they pull together when miserable Angela comes back to Atlanta via Greyhound without telling her parents.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Young teens will be happy to know that SnowAngel, mad maddie, and zoegirl are back in TTFN, a sequel to ttyl, also written in text message format. It's a quick read that at times is funny, poignant, and touching, but the intensity of problems shared is lost in the sing-songy rhythm of text messages, complete with graphic smiley faces and dramatic punctuation. The book's format enables the reader to be a voyeur, learning about the deepest secrets of teen girls. It will appeal to younger teen readers who haven't had many of the experiences described here, but the mature material makes it a better fit for high school students. The conclusions are a bit obvious, but the book does impart some nice messages about friendship and being true to yourself.

 

 

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Lauren Myracle
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication date: March 1, 2006
Number of pages: 224
Hardcover price: $15.95

This review was written by Pam Gelman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

Musicislove62
teen, 16 years old
 
No.
I am almost 16, and I read this book along with many other trashy teen novels in middle school, and they gave me the absolute wrong messages. These books led me to believe that all teens drink and have sex and party, and they didn't oppose them. Luckily, I had an epiphany that I don't want to do any of that stuff before I made any mistakes, but these books are the exact wrong thing, and by the time teens are old enough to not be poorly affected, it is too immature. And yes, these things do happen in high school, but there are plenty of social circles teens can find that don't.

Lolololol333
teen, 15 years old
 
READ
im 10, and i understood everything in this series. i think its appropriate for kids with older siblings (13 & up)

Mz_brune
kid, 12 years old
 
Acceptable for tweens.
I am twelve and i LOVE this book! Evewn though i haven't had my first kiss yet OR even seen pot, i like the book and understand all of the writing.

 
Slow down, it's fine. It won't mentally scar your kids. Trust.
Okay, I'm 19 now but I read this book as a freshman in high-school. First off, I never had sex or did drugs. I read this book, did that change anything? No. It's a good book about teens who face everyday problems, and some big ones. I honestly think it's silly for parents to want to conceal this book from their children. If your girl is 14, let her read it. I didn't lose my virginity until I was 18, this book didn't change that. I was still the same person I was after I read it. lol. I read this book and came out fine, and now I'm doing medicine in college. So trust me, just let your kids read.

Mommy to Mom
parent of and 2 , 5 , 12 , 15 year old
 
Perfect for tweens, but not for kids younger than 10
I think that TTFN is a wonderful book. Even though Bridget, my daughter, hates when I read her books before i give them to her, it helps her relate to real life. It also made her very mature. She has all of the books in this seris and will never stop rereading.

booklover27
teen, 13 years old
 
!!!
I read this book when I was 11 and I understood that drugs, drinking ect, is wrong because my parents taught that these things are bad at a young age so as long as your child understands this, it is a great book about three loving friends.

Oreocakes
teen, 14 years old
 

 
Borderline ponography
Maybe I am a prude, but I do not think this book is appropiate. In the 1st 27 pages the girls talk about very intimate sexual stuff and about a teacher getting a "stiffie" because he looks at the girls boobs. I also thought it was poorly written. No Depth or texture. I'm not letting my 12 yr old daughter read it and I am warning my daughters friends partents about it.

iluvtoread
teen, 15 years old
 
Great book but shouldn't be read kids in elementary school
I'm 15 and this is a great book! I've read the whole series and I really think this book should not be read by kids in elementary school.

Peachpapup
kid, 13 years old
 
Get a grip, this is real life
I enjoyed this book very much, it actually has some realistic events in it. For the parents who aren't going to let thier kid read it because of the inapropriate content... if you don't want you're kids hearing this stuff you may as well keep them home from school because that is the only thing kids talk about these days.. I think this is a good book for girls who are at least mature enough to handle it. For any younger girls perhaps 9 and up I suggest the Luv Ya Bunches series. Not too inapropriate, and has realistic events.

NinjaSquadxP
teen, 13 years old
 
Great Book, but Harsh Terms
So, i read this series when i was like 10, but my mom was okay with it. i didnt understand what they were talking about at 1st because i didnt really use "text lingo" but i caught on. it's a very realistic book and i enjoyed it so much :) i wish i had friends like this :)

kitkat1010
kid, 13 years old
 
omg, i just finished this book and it was amazing! parents think that this book is crap, need to realize that things like these happen in the real world and that you cant keep your kids readng picture books thier whole lives. i mean, how many other books are written in IM form?!

 
It isnt the best book for kids 10 and lower but its a good book.
weel im 12 and i think this was a good book and ,, right now im doing a book report about it and im stil working on it but it is , a very good

 
Honest Abe
This book is perfect for young adult or older teens. I read this book myself and thought, why would this be in the teen section at the library? This book does contain some sexual intercourse, drugs, and christian holiness. Parents if you see that your teen is reading this book don't assume their having sex. Talk to them, don't be a stranger, be a parent.

Soccerchick17
teen, 13 years old
 
Theres so much more to it(:
Truth is, i thought L8r G8r was a much better book than this. but that is just my opinion. Anyway this book was great too! It should me that boys,drugs & sex shouldnt come between friendships. And it showed me that high school isnt just about boys,partys,drugs, &sex. There is so much more to it. Overall GREAT BOOK!!

Asia K
teen, 15 years old
 
A fun read.
Please don't be put off this book just because it's written in IM. There's not necessarily much to discuss and it's not, well, very deep; it's simply just a really fun read. It's about girls dealing with complicated and real situations in their lives, and it's not like they encourage each other to do bad things. They look out for one another. Whenever I'm feeling down or I've had enough of classical literature I read a little of TTFN and feel relaxed. It's funny and the characters are personable and relatable. Funnily enough, just reading about their experiences (trying pot, for instance) satiates my curiousity without me having to actually go out and try these things for myself. It's amazing how Lauren Myracle depicted the girls' different personalities through IM, of all things.

 
Dumb or dumber?
When there are so many quality books for teens, why would anyone spend time or money on this drivel? This series is primarily written as text messaging and focuses on girls bullying one another while their lame parents are poor role models--duh!

twilight_gurl97
teen, 17 years old
 
love this book
hey im a 15 year old girl i think your boooks are great. they have so many great topics that tenns like me go throw. this book makes you never want to put it down. -alexis

jennalow
kid, 12 years old
 
Good
I love this book. I read it in 3rd grade. But not to recomend to young kids. Age 12-15

manatee<3
teen, 14 years old
 
good and bad... mostly good :)
Im 13 and i loved ttyl and ttfn. im gonna buy l8r g8r cause the first two books were FANTASTIC!! i really think this book is ok for 12 and up as long as the parents think there child is mature enough and aware of what is going on, and how to appropriatly handle a situation that happened in the book, if it happens in real life. this book allows the parent and teen to both be more open in the discussion of safe sex and how drugs may effect you. this book has some good messages on how to be a terrific friend and and choose great friends... i hope you liked this book as much as i did!!

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