Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Krysten Weller

Jessica Darling seems to have everything going for her. She's one of
the top students in her school, she's been voted "Most Likely to Succeed," she was accepted to take a creative writing course for exceptional students, and she has her choice of which top college she wants to attend. However, she's still unhappy. Her best friend, Hope, has moved miles away, her ex is still causing her grief,and she can't decide where to go to college.

The book, which is written in a journal style, takes you from Jessica's
summer creative writing course to the end of the school year. Throughout the year Jess begins dating the school's other top student who just happens to be her ex's best friend. Also, her grandmother plays a major role in her life by showing her how to relax and enjoy life.

Jess also runs into a guy she used to have a crush on and is introduced to Columbia University. She makes the decision to apply to Columbia even though her parents would never let her move to New York City. Then Sept. 11 happens and Jess has to deal with her fears about living in New York. In the end, Jess listens to her grandmother's advice and winds up financially secure enough to make her decision about college without having to worry about her parents' opinions.

McCafferty has done a good job in showing the kind of angst and turmoil
that one faces during their senior year. Jessica's character is well rounded, but all of the other characters tend to be stereotypical and quite one-dimensional. Also, McCafferty has taken the teen lingo and aspects too far to the point no longer making subtle interjections, but blatant "teen speak."

The book is intended for the adult market, but it would also work for a young adult crowd. However, it would be more interesting as trip down memory lane for the adults than it would be for a younger audience.