Title: Secrets of My Suburban Life (Paperback)Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: January 2008
Pages: 240
Rating: D
Plot - 14/20
Characters - 13/20
Writing - 12/20
Originality - 14/20
Entertainment - 7/10
Recommendation - 6/10
Total: 70/100
Summary:
Everything changed for Lauren ("Ren") after Harry Potter killed her mom. No,it's not what you think--Harry Potter didn't come to life and stab her or anything. A stack of those thick books crushed her. Now Ren is stuck out in the suburbs of Connecticut, dragged out there because her father is too grief stricken to continue living in New York. Ren tries to fit in at her new school, but the most popular girl, Farrin, keeps icing her out. Then Ren discovers that Farrin has a secret: She's been communicating online with an older man, and they are actually planning to meet! Ren can't let Farrin go through with it--she's witnessed enough tragic events as it is. So she comes up with the perfect plan to stop the perv. But then she finds out who he is...
Review:
This book was definitely not what I was expecting.Rengave a very bad first impression. She came off as a snobby rich, spoiled kid, and she kind of is, minus the snobby part. Her mom's death was completely unreal, and Ren's and her fathers emotions didn't go through well enough about the death.
Ren's character was developed pretty badly. The scenes were constructed okay, but not great. The whole layout of the novel felt staged and unreal. The ending was definitely predictable. The dramatic irony in the story of us knowing and Ren not, because of the predictability, made her seem clueless. Farrin was the stereotypical rich, popular, snobby girl. Jack and Ren relationship was cliched.
Baratz-Logsted's writing was good, but not great. She didn't give enough emotion in her writing, and it was like reading from the outside looking outside. The only good thing about this novel was that the plot was semi enjoyable. The fact the she goes after a pervert, the fact that Baratz-Logsted detailed a serious issue into this book was a plus. Because it was, pretty enjoyable.
Overall, this novel was enjoyable, kind of boring, and very predictable. It was good, but it could've been much better.
This book sounded really funny, but i'm not really into super predictable storylines. Thanks for the warning Kelsey!
ReplyDelete-Amanda
70 was a C at my school :)
ReplyDeleteAweee. I really wanted to read this. But I guess not! Not after this! And I adored the cover of this... *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI have this one waiting for me at the library. Not looking forward to it being predictable though...I'm still gonna read it though. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, there's something waiting for you over at my blog--better check it out!
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Crazy, because I nominated you as well! I love the new layout!
ReplyDeletehttp://justblindedbookreviews.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-love-your-blog-award.html
I have this and Lauren's other YA, Angel's Choice, in my TBR pile. I'm looking forward to reading this book, despite your review. But I'll keep an eye out for the stuff you didn't like whenever I get around to reading it.
ReplyDeleteGreat, well thought out review!
Hey, I nominated you for the I Love Your Blog Award because I LOVE YOUR BLOG! :D
ReplyDeleteWonderful review by the way and thanks for the comment on my nano post, though, I don't know about brilliant, it certainly needs a lot of work. Also, your word count is fantastic! Sure, you didn't get 50K but you got something and that's pushed your story along and I bet that it isn't rambles like mine. XD XD
Wow, I really liked this book. It's bee about a year since I read it, but I don't remember it being like you said.
ReplyDeleteLenore: Technically it is a D because it really adds up to 66, not 70. ;)
This book should be really bad. Thanx for the warning.
ReplyDelete