Hacker, Randi. Life as I knew it.HACKER, Randi. Life as I knew it. Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. , Pulse. 231p. c2006. 1-4169-0995-8. $6.99. JS 16-year-old Angelina Rossini thinks she has life pretty well figured out. Her tiny town in Vermont is populated pop·u·late tr.v. pop·u·lat·ed, pop·u·lat·ing, pop·u·lates 1. To supply with inhabitants, as by colonization; people. 2. by a bevy bevy a flock of birds. of unconventional characters. Her charming Italian father has a flair for drama and he is also one of Angelina's best friends. She isn't particularly close to her more reserved British mother and suspects her mother would be happier had Angelina not been born. She has a bad case of unrequited love This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details. This article has been tagged since September 2007. for Jax, her gay best friend, and is continually tormented by her classmate Celeste Celeste is a woman's first name. Celeste may also refer to: in Music
tr.v. par·a·lyzed, par·a·lyz·ing, par·a·lyz·es 1. To affect with paralysis; cause to be paralytic. 2. To make unable to move or act: paralyzed by fear. and unable to speak. Angelina is forced to redefine her life and all of her relationships now that the center has shifted. Despite Angelina's likeability, this compelling and emotional story suffers from an uninspired narrative voice. Surrounded by such vibrant characters, Angelina's personality is lost, never fully emerging. The story is also marred by an unrealistic and heavy-handed moment involving Angelina's father and a high school concert of Andrew Lloyd Weber songs. Instead of coming across as moving and meaningful, as surely it is intended to, it seems crafted and manipulative, with the improbable moment taking the reader out of the story. Careful plotting and varied action keep this novel from feeling too grave or focusing solely on the one major event. Flaws aside, Hacker has created a touching story that is sure to appeal to a wide audience. Amanda MacGregor, St. Cloud, MN J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. |
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