Saturday, 6 June 2009

Review - A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl / Tanya Lee Stone

Review - Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva all get mixed up with a senior boy, a cool, slick, sexy boy who can talk them into doing almost anything he wants. In a blur of high school hormones and personal doubt, each girl struggles with how much to give up and what ultimately to keep for herself. How do girls handle themselves? How much can a boy get away with? And in the end, who comes out on top? A bad boy may always be a bad boy. But this bad boy is about to meet three girls who won't back down.

Summary - Not long ago I wrote a guest blog (My Square Heart) for Liz over at My Favourite Books about the impact Forever (Judy Blume) had on my in my teen years. Soon after, British author Luisa Plaja suggested I read this novel as it involves Forever. a few months later and a book swap with the glorious Alea from Pop Culture Junkie and I had this novel in my hands.

The thing is...I didn't realise it was a verse novel. I am not a great fan of this style as I have read plenty of bad verse, free or otherwise. Thank goodness this title came along and changed my perspective. It was compelling reading. Three teen girls get manipulated by the school's head jock. At first I was doubtful of how effective you could show three smart girls getting worked over by the same guy without looking completely clueless. Instead the reader is shown how easy it is for girls to go against their gut in the belief that the guy cares regardless behaviour indicators to the contrary.

It's a super quick read with a good message for girls, definitely check this one out!

Published: 2006
Format: Paperback, 240 pages
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Origin: USA
_ _ _
Tanya Lee Stone's Website
Tanya Lee Stone's Blog

4 comments:

BookChic said...

What verse novels have you read before that were bad? Or do you mean something else?

Anyway, loved this book too, and I'm a big fan of verse novels. Aside from Tanya, I love Ellen Hopkins, Lisa Schroeder, and Sonya Sones- all great verse novelists. You should give them a chance. :)

Great review!

Jo said...

Awesome review! In July (hopefully), I'm going to be holding a Sex in Teen Lit Month over on my sub-blog, Ink and Paper Specials, with additional comments coming from Luisa Plaja as a fellow-author-come-reader-come-mother and this is one of the novels I'll be reviewing/discussing. Tanya Lee Stone has also agreed to be interviewed about the book and the subject. If you're interested, please check the blog out for more details, it would be awesome if you could join in the discussions when it starts :)

Luisa Plaja said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, though sorry I didn't think to tell you it's a verse novel!

Like Book Chic, I'm also curious about whether you've read other verse novels. I'm also a huge fan of Sonya Sones.

And I agree with Jo that it would be wonderful if you joined in with the discussions on her specials blog when the time comes!

prophecygirl said...

I loved this book! Absolutely loved it. I think every girl should read it!