Kemp, Kristen. The dating diaries.KEMP, Kristen. The dating diaries. Scholastic, Push. 265p. c2004. 0-439-62298-0. $6.99. JS What's a girl to do when her boyfriend of nearly five years breaks up with her? High school senior Katie James decides the only way to get over Paul is Paul I, 1754–1801, czar of Russia (1796–1801), son and successor of Catherine II. His mother disliked him intensely and sought on several occasions to change the succession to his disadvantage. to go on 12 dates in six weeks, with the intention of finding a new boyfriend in time for the prom. The plot is fairly predictable, starting with Katie's makeover that reveals her to be (gasp!) a diamond in the rough. Gone are her days of overalls and no make-up; thanks to her mother, a beautician, Katie is a real knockout. Throughout the story she struggles with romantic feelings for her best friend, Matt, a one-dimensional, "aw, shucks shuck n. 1. a. A husk, pod, or shell, as of a pea, hickory nut, or ear of corn. b. The shell of an oyster or clam. 2. Informal Something worthless. " Rind RIND See Reversible ischemic neurological disability. of guy with thick glasses and a limp LIMP - ["Messages in Typed Languages", J. Hunt et al, SIGPLAN Notices 14(1):27-45 (Jan 1979)]. who, despite five years of being second best to Paul, remains devoted to Katie. Katie's makeover and quest to find a new boyfriend lead her to discover many new things about herself. She goes from being quiet and friendless to gaining new confidence and a motley crew
A motley crew is a cliché for a roughly-organized assembly of characters. of friends (with a small phase in between of being self-absorbed and annoying). Ultimately dissatisfied with how her dating project is turning out, Katie is surprised to find that she can go on a "date" with herself and have a great time. While generally a formulaic and predictable story, Kemp does take some unexpected twists and turns in Katie and Matt's saga, which keep the reader interested. The Dating Diaries is realistic enough that many readers will feel an affinity with Katie. A good book for high school fans of "chick lit "Chick lit" is a term used to denote genre fiction written for and marketed to young women, especially single, working women in their twenties and thirties. The genre's creation was spurred on, if not exactly created, by Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole diaries which inspired Adele " and anyone who just wants a fun read. 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. Amanda MacGregor, Boston, MA |
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