YA BOOK REVIEW
I read the sequel to Gingerbread--Shrimp, by Rachel Cohn. Loved it! Cyd Charisse is just so delicious. I think my favorite aspect of her character is her sensuality. She loves boys and food and music. She is just such a full, living, sensual character. She makes you want to lick the frosting off of cupcakes, dress up in wild clothing, and cut loose. It's fabulous that CC indulges in what she loves and doesn't worry about becoming fat, or frowned upon or labeled. She is who she is. It completely works that she will end up at culinary school. I also love that she eats what she wants and stays slender. Anything is possible in fiction! All of the characters, in my opinion, are full and developed. They are perhaps all a little too gorgeous, especially the oh so perfect Amber, but again, anything is possible in fiction and I love that I want to become a part of CC's life and be inspired by her vim.
I don't want it to work out with Shrimp. Not that I don't like his character; I do. It's just that CC needs to find herself in NYC, and being with Shrimp clouds that , I think. I'm eager to read Cupcake to find out how things turn out. I love that each book in the trilogy uses a food as its title. Works given CC's character.
Are Gingerbread , Shrimp and Cupcake okay for you to read? Lots of high school content in these books. I think they are really only for Grade 8 and up. Nevertheless, it's not up to me, and I encourage you to write about your reactions to these books in your log if you do happen to read them.
Because I loved Shrimp so much and Cupcake wasn't available at the library, I che
cked out Pop Princess, also by Cohn. Loved it too! I loved it like you love a choclately brownie, though. It was sweet going down--I read it in one sitting--but it's not exactly "good" for you reading. The characters, including Wonder, the title character, is not partcularly developed and the plot is predictable and shallow, much like a pop princess hit song. But also like a pop hit, it's catchy and fun and definitely tasty.It seems pretty clear that the book is modeled after Britney Spears and co, who began as Musketeers and are now media sensations with top-selling pop albums and scandal and hype surrounding their every move. I found it very hard to believe that Wonder could just return to everyday life after her shot to stardom, but naturally I was glad, as I was supposed to be, that she went home (or close to home, anyway) again to grow up. I wanted her to at least have somewhat of a relationship with Dartmouth man (was it Dartmouth?) but I thought the scenario was believable. The fact that Wonder gives it up to him was disappointing but also real, and I appreciated that. Wonder, no matter how much of a flat character, was more real to me than say, Mara in this regard.
This is another book that is for the most part harmless, but does include some s.e.x and drinking. Again--grade 8 and up.
