Review Detail

Reader reviewed by K. Hager

Only Cathy Hopkins could make such a spoiled brat lovable. Leonora has everything--a private jet to take her where she wants, fabulous clothes and shoes and a staff to wait on her. Yet she's rude, manipulative and mean to those around her. She is dismissive to the staff and actually charges them interest when they borrow money from her. Then her parents trick her into going on what she thinks is a French vacation to meet a friend when she's really headed for boot camp.

I gotta say, even I felt bad for her when she had to work for privleges such as hot water & food. NAturally, she makes no friends at first and really alienates anyone who might be an ally. But then we start to get pieces of what makes her so bitter. We find out she had a little sister who died and we know she feels guilty for some reason.

In the end, the story of her sister's passing redeems her character ad helps open her eyes to the suffering her fellow boot campers are dealing with. I actually teared up when reading about the little sister.

This is a fun read. At first, I thought Leonora was a bit over the top, but it's done in such a way you find that she's doing it in reaction to her situation and not just a stereotype.