Vintage Veronica
By Abby Aldrich,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Overweight teen finds her voice, learns a friendship lesson.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
Fifteen-year-old Veronica Walsh's summer job at a consignment store is a dream come true because, not only is she the first one to see the cast-off treasures from bygone eras that suit her personal style, but she can also hide on the fourth floor away from customers and co-workers. Veronica is overweight, with a mother that frequently reminds her of that, and she has no friends since a recent falling out. Content to remain friendless, she hides away upstairs until two mean girls who work on the sales floor strike up a "friendship" with her and convince her to spy on Lenny, the odd stock boy. At first, Veronica is pleased that the girls are even talking to her, so when she and Lenny hit it off Veronica wants to keep that a secret in order to stay friends with Zoe and Ginger. She soon realizes that attention from them isn't worth giving up on the first true friend she's had in way too long.
Is It Any Good?
Vintage Veronica is an excellent read with a great lesson for anyone who has ever wanted to fit in. Teens will be able to relate to Veronica's fear about falling out of favor with the cooler girls, and they'll cheer for her when she finally uses her true voice.
Veronica's inner dialogue gives us a peek inside her self-deprecating, sweet,
and silly mind. We see how difficult it is for her to go with her gut and stand
up to Zoe and Ginger. We also see how hard it is for her to understand why Lenny
seems to like her so much. By the end of the book, though, Veronica is inspiring
as she transforms from a girl who hides away on the 4th floor, too afraid to be
herself for fear of ridicule and rejection, to a self-assured young woman who is
ready to come out into the light of day and be herself, no matter what.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fitting in. Have you ever done something you weren't proud of in order to fit in?
Veronica has a hard time trusting herself. Why do you think that is? How does that impact her friendships?
Many times in the book, Veronica's inner voice tells her the right thing to do or say, but she ignores it. Do you listen to your inner voice? Why or why not?
Book Details
- Author: Erica S. Perl
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Knopf
- Publication date: March 9, 2010
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 288
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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