Robin Brande

It's rare, in a sense. After finishing the book I know exactly what I want to say. Here goes.

This book has potential to change somebody's life, probably? But it's not without flaws. And it does absolutely nothing for me personally. I wouldn't call it a waste of time, but I didn't like it much.

The healthy living message wasn't too forceful, but maybe it's because I mostly ignored it. I can do that, unless it gets too forceful - then I quit altogether. I'm just not invested in listening to preachers.

I liked Cat's transformation and her emotional growth, but gods did I want to shake her more than once. And she should have made Matt work more. You don't just kiss a guy after not speaking to him for 4 years. It's a long time, a lot of changes. You may not even like who he's become. What the hell?

And Matt himself? I don't see him. At all. He is this very vague idea incapable of relating emotionally to other people. I thought him very presumptuous expecting Cat just to come back to him. And as far as I could tell he didn't even make an effort to find out why Cat ditched him. If he was her friend why didn't he just ask her what was wrong? It's like he doesn't even care. Ugh. Four years! FOUR YEARS, PEOPLE!

Actually, the longer I spend writing this review the less I like the book. It's entirely unrealistic. If only because dieting has a lot more of a psychological impact. Not to mention nursing a kiddy crush, and getting The Guy, and everything being Just Fabulous in the end.

FINAL VERDICT: I would not recommend this… (mehr)

Mena Reece is just starting her freshman year in high school, she has been cast out of her church, her church friends are alternately bullying her and ignoring her, and her parents are not speaking to her. The reason for all of this is not made clear until almost half way through the book. Her science teacher places her with cute science geek, Casey Connor, as her lab partner. Through her science teacher, Ms. Shepherd, and Casey and his family, Mena sees another way of life different from the strict Christian one in which she was raised. They both spark her interest in science, first with an important long-term science project that includes working with Casey’s adorable puppies, and then when the unit on evolution begins. The pastor of her church uses the Christian students in Mena’s class to launch a challenge against the evolution unit. When Ms. Shepherd begins to discuss Evolution, the Christian students turn their chairs around and ignore the lesson. The un-Christian-like behavior of Mena’s former friends seems to be a caricature of what liberals think of how conservative Christians act. [UNFINISHED]… (mehr)