Thursday, January 29, 2009

Review: The ABC's of Kissing Boys

Author: Tina Ferraro
Review Copy Provided by: publisher, Random House

About the Book: Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she’s a high school junior, everything she’s worked for is finally coming together. She’s paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she’s a shoo-in for the varsity team. But that’s not what happens. This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two—and one of those two was Parker. Now, she’s stuck with the freshmen, her friends are cutting her loose, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. But Parker is determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team, and she has the perfect plan. All she needs now is the right kind of coach.

My Review: I fell in love with this book cover and knew I just had to read it. It also has such a great title! Parker is a typical high school girl that goes through typical high school "stuff." I like how Ferraro gave her a what is commonly a boy's name and made her an athletic girl, not a girly girl. So many books you read have girly girls in them. I feel like Parker is a real girl that many teens will be able to relate to. What teenage girl doesn't wish she could just take Mommy's credit card and go to their favorite department store? Isn't it the goal of all teenagers to be in style? Parker was definitely in style, but she felt like she didn't belong. Teenage girls can be vindictive and there were times as I was reading this that I thought, "Don't be a wimp, Parker; stand up to those girls!" I feel like this story will show girls to stand up for what they believe and stand by your true friends, no matter what because they will always be there for you. It's a lesson that many of us learned in high school, when we hung out with the "in" crowd and shunned our other friends. I recommend this book to young girls. I feel like they will be able to relate to Parker and what she goes through.

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4 comments:

BookChook said...

I loved the title, too. This sounds a fun book, and I like your description of Parker. Kids need books that make them think about friends and what a true friend really is.

Staci said...

I want to know how she handles playing with the freshman girls and if things turn out the way she thought they should!! Great review!!

Shelly B said...

Staci - I won't spoil it for you, but it's good.

Susan - I agree with your final thought.

TinaFerraro said...

I am Tina...the author. I came upon this through a Google Alert, and I'd like to thank you for your thoughts and your support of my book. I, too, was rooting for Parker to find her sea legs and stand up to those girls while I was writing it...and while I won't give the story away, I'll just say that Parker is arguably my favorite heroine of all the books I've written! If anyone would like to chat more about this, please e-mail me at admin@tinaferraro.com!

 
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