Beth Reekles
Random House Childrens Publishers UK
April 2013
So, Beth couldn't find a book online that she liked. So she wrote her own.
This puts a fun spin on a novel that is fun to read -- but portends greater things to come as the author matures.
A teen romance, written by a teen, carries an authentic tone to it that makes the read immediate and absorbing.
What's different about this book?
The author, Ms. Reekles, is seventeen. And there's the point of difference: the routine, the fun, the crazy actions in the book reflect the routine, fun, and crazy action of real teenagers. And the wisest actions in the book -- reflect the wisdom of a teenager. That means the wisest thinking and the most mature perspective in the book will be that of a seventeen-year-old. Because no one can conceive beyond who they are.
So mistakes that Elle makes (and makes again!) are those of an adolescent. And that was really frustrating for this adult reader who thought, "Duh. You made that huge mistake once. Why would you do so again??"
But it was a fun read -- something like the cotton candy that shows up a couple of times in the story. Fluffy, ephemeral, and a little sweet.
What will I do now that I've read it?
But hey, I like sweet in a world where abuse and profligacy and crudeness tend to reign. I appreciate knowing a book that I will be able to recommend (over and over again) to kids who are the same age and time period as Ms. Reekles. Definitely chic lit -- but largely wholesome in the values and relationships that are solid and represent parents that are present and concerned. There is a somewhat blasé attitude towards teen sex, but most teens will recognize that and form their own attitudes.
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