In the back of my rough book I wrote a list of hurdles I needed to overcome in order to meet Luke and some of his friends in town for an almost-date type situation. Writing the list had the added advantage of making me look really busy and productive in the lesson.

1. Get Poppy to invite Jez.
2. Phone Luke (ignoring obvious further hurdle of family listening in while I talk on landline).
3. Possibly clarify to Luke who I am.
4. Present compelling reasons as to why Luke would want to agree to the above, along with his friends, whom I've never met.

Meet Holly Stockwell, fourteen. She hates all forms of exercise, gets tongue-tied around boys, and her best friend, Poppy, seems to be developing a new best friend - the rich and gorgeous Claudia! Can she overcome these traumas without life getting any worse?

2007-11-27 Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Holly's never kissed a boy before and can't summon the courage to talk to the boy she likes. She has super-strict parents who don't let her do anything. She doesn't fit in with her athletic family, especially since she hates sports. She thinks life couldn't possibly get any worse.

But then it does. Holly loses her best friend to Claudia, who has had tons of boyfriends and has super-cool parents. Now Holly doesn't know what to do. Not only is Claudia stealing her best friend, but now she has her sights set on Holly's crush.

Holly's not sure who to turn to, but she's hoping that something changes soon...and for the better.

If you like THE CONFESSIONS OF GEORGIA NICOLSON, don't miss out on this humorous British tale.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel