Review Detail

Whats the ultimate sin a college-bound teenager can commit? How about ditching college to pursue their dreams? Look over your shoulder&yeah, thats your parent twitching in horror.

In Bass Ackwards and Belly Up, four girls find themselves with some decisions to make right before going off to college. The dilemma begins with Harper, who isnt going to college because she wasnt accepted at her dream University (and hadnt applied anywhere else). But that isnt what she tells her three best friends or her family too ashamed to admit she didnt get in, she instead tells everyone that shes going to stay home, move into the basement, and work on the next great American novel.

Her decision prompts some deep thought in her friends and two of them decide they need to follow their hearts as well. Sophie decides to move to Beverly Hills to try her hand at acting shes got the attitude and the looks and the burning desire to be a star. Then theres Kate, the one youd think would be least likely to change her plans and do something daring&which is exactly why she decides to travel Europe and find herself instead of going off to Harvard.

Only Becca finds herself sticking to the original plan and leaving home to attend college at Middlebury. But shes been tasked with a huge life-altering goal as well: fall in love. Coming from a very dysfunctional family, letting herself go and letting someone in is harder than youd think.

Each chapter focuses in on a different girl as she tries to fulfill her dream and overcome obstacles that at times seem very intense. Readers will turn the pages eagerly (I know I did) to find out what will happen next. Will Harper get together with Mr. Finelli (her former teacher and longtime crush)? Will she get past her writers block and self-imposed writers blindness to actually complete her novel? Will Sophie accept second-class treatment from a rising movie star (who, admittedly, is really, really hot) or will she stick up for herself? Will Becca fall for Stuart or languish in unrequited love for Jared (formerly Kates boyfriend)? Will Kate find the strength to find herself in Europe or will she give in to her parents and become the perfect daughter again?

I feel like Im reducing this great book down to some silly clichés, but thats what you get sometimes when trying to reduce a book down to a short review. The book itself is NOT riddled with trite situations or phrases, though it easily could have been. Instead, it is a true pleasure to read with an honest, real-life feel. I really enjoyed this one and I think you will too. Recommended for readers aged 12 and up. Some sexual situations are included, but nothing overly explicit and not at all gratuitous.