Westerfeld, Scott. So yesterday.

WESTERFELD, Scott. So yesterday. Read by Scott Brick, 6 cds. 6.5 hrs. Listening Library. 2004/2005. 0-307-28458-1. $50.00. Vinyl; plot, author, reader notes. JS

From the KLIATT review of the book, September 2004: "Cool is cool, and what's cool today is tomorrow's old news. But who decides what's cool? Marketing executives? Big-name celebrities? Or is cool created one unique shoelace tie at a time by innovators who live outside the box? Just ask Hunter. He's a Trendsetter whose job is to determine 'cool' and send it on down the line, through the Early Adopters, the Consumers, and finally the Laggards. Best of all, he gets paid for it as a 'cool hunter' who works for 'the client,' a big-name company that specializes in athletic wear through Mandy, their marketing agent. Things get a little complicated when he discovers Jen, a true Innovator, and brings her to a 'cool tasting' with the other trendsetters ... Westerfeld has encapsulated today's cool in a fast-paced, fun novel that's not afraid to poke fun at our own consumerism while at the same time recognizing that cool rules."

Narrator Brick gets inside Hunter Braque and his new girlfriend, Jen, and ably brings them to life in a lighthearted way. Without going for New York accents, he brings out the Manhattan flavor, making them real without ever becoming flamboyant or going over the top. He keeps things moving, keeps us grinning, and maintains the suspense of this tongue-in-cheek mystery. Pleasant listening. Mary Purucker, Beverly Hills PL, Beverly Hills, CA

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.