Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Hillary

Sage wants to be just like Mona. Gorgeous, popular, without the crazy mother, lack of money, or extra pounds. So, she beings to diet and exercise as well as get some blond highlights and throw away all her black clothes. She transforms herself, piece by piece. Though Sage believes that no one likes her, there is one person, Vern. Vern is her best friend and neighbor and he loves her just the way she is. Unfortunately Sage wants the popular jock, Roger. But when he starts to return the feeling, Sage begins to question if this is really what she wanted.

This book was really hard to get into. The beginning was slow and a bit confusing. The story is told through rotating narrators. Sage, Vern, and then Wal-Mart (aka Walter) with the occasional Roger thrown in for additional insight. The book focused on a few major issues, mainly bipolar disorders, abuse relationships, and the torture that is commonly referred to as high school. Though the title is To Be Mona, I don't think that Sage really was trying to be like her but rather to be liked and more popular. I think that this is a great book if you want to learn more about bipolar disorders, but I'd recommend waiting for paperback because I don't think it's worth the $20 you'd spend on it.