Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Alexandra

Ruby Oliver has to start seeing a shrink at age 15 after the worst 10 days of her life. She did something "suspicious" with a boy, lost all her friends, and all her semi-friends, became a social outcast, and had a panic attack. After the panic attack, Ruby's mom starts making her go see Dr. Z. Dr. Z in turn forces Ruby to make a list of all her boyfriends, almost-boyfriends, could-have-been-boyfriends, and wanted-to-be-boyfriends. At first the therapy sessions are cathartic and Ruby is working out her problems, even if the other kids at school are still avoiding her. Then her "Boyfriend List" gets discovered, and suddenly people think she's an über-slut, even though some of the boys are from second grade. Will Ruby ever gain back her reputation, and her friends? Ruby's voice is incredibly real, and the pain she goes through is easily identifiable as realistic high school drama. And the footnotes sprinkled throughout help, as well.