Reviewed by Amanda Dissinger for TeensReadToo.com
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
These are the words that start out both the beginning and end of THE TRUE MEANING OF CLEAVAGE, a cute little story about two very different best friends and their first year of high school.
Jess, the "tomboy" of the two, is beginning her freshman year with hopes of surviving it. Sari, the "hottie," is beginning her freshman year with hopes of finding love, especially with the most popular senior in the school, David. Oh, did I mention he already has an equally popular girlfriend? Jess warns Sari against getting involved with David, but Sari won't listen, starts ignoring Jess, and is drawn to the danger and excitement of dating a boy three years her elder.
Soon, Sari is in way over her head, and the two girls are drifting more and more apart. Sari confides in Jess about the "affair" and, in a fit of rage, Jess tells the gossip queen of the school about the secret relationship. Both have to deal with the unpleasant consequences as they try to build back the relationship they once had.
Fredericks' characters and plot are very believable; the events in this book can happen to anyone (example: it happened to me in middle school. I was the tomboy.) The book is a light-hearted coming-of-age tale about two friends going through massive changes in their life, and the paths they choose to go on. It is an excellent read for those who want to remember the relationships they have lost in translation, and the relationships they will rekindle again as time goes on.
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
These are the words that start out both the beginning and end of THE TRUE MEANING OF CLEAVAGE, a cute little story about two very different best friends and their first year of high school.
Jess, the "tomboy" of the two, is beginning her freshman year with hopes of surviving it. Sari, the "hottie," is beginning her freshman year with hopes of finding love, especially with the most popular senior in the school, David. Oh, did I mention he already has an equally popular girlfriend? Jess warns Sari against getting involved with David, but Sari won't listen, starts ignoring Jess, and is drawn to the danger and excitement of dating a boy three years her elder.
Soon, Sari is in way over her head, and the two girls are drifting more and more apart. Sari confides in Jess about the "affair" and, in a fit of rage, Jess tells the gossip queen of the school about the secret relationship. Both have to deal with the unpleasant consequences as they try to build back the relationship they once had.
Fredericks' characters and plot are very believable; the events in this book can happen to anyone (example: it happened to me in middle school. I was the tomboy.) The book is a light-hearted coming-of-age tale about two friends going through massive changes in their life, and the paths they choose to go on. It is an excellent read for those who want to remember the relationships they have lost in translation, and the relationships they will rekindle again as time goes on.
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
Best friends Sari and Jess are freshmen. Suddenly, when they had used to both despise the popular "in" crowd, Sari's chasing after the hottest senior in school, David, who just happens to already have a girlfriend. Jess is afraid that Sari's lusting after David will result in the end of their friendship. If Sari's turned to the dark side of parties and boys, she's not going to want to hang out with outcast Jess anymore. It's possible: Sari is hot and stylish. Jess couldn't care less about appearances and being accepted. How will their freshman year turn out?
This book was surprisingly very good. I loved Jess's voice: so wise, and yet so vulnerable at times. Jess is a protagonist you will want to root for through her difficult journey.
This book was surprisingly very good. I loved Jess's voice: so wise, and yet so vulnerable at times. Jess is a protagonist you will want to root for through her difficult journey.
Sari and Jess are best friends and total opposites. They've liked each other ever since they discovered that they are the only two normal people at Eldridge Alternative. As they prepare to face the trials of ninth grade, Sari is psyched. Jess is not. How can she face the Prada Mafia, he most evil clique in school? Or Mr. McGuiness's unnervingly long nosehair. What if something really interesting happens to Sari and nothing whatsoever happens to Jess? But not even Jess can predict the mayhem that erups when Sari falls madly in love with David Cole. David is a senior. He's been dating Thea Melendez for forever. So he couldn't possibly be interested in Sari. Or could he? And if he is, where does that leave Jess?
