Gehrman's: Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty

I was not looking forward to reading this novel as I was put off by the bright pink cover with swirls, polka-dots, and a heart. I was sure it would be filled with teen girl dialogue referring to all sorts of things of which I had no interest. It turns out I was partially correct. The story is told through diary entries of a teen girl who often talks about clothes, friends, and boys. However, the style of writing is such that this intelligent teenager captivates the reader drawing them quickly into the teenage intrigue. A quarter of the way through the story I realized that this was a Shakeperean homage or rewrite of which play I did not know until the main character's revealed their real names. Jody Gehrman updates one of Shakespeare's funniest plots with colorful, intelligent, intentionally stereotypical teens and parents. The dialogue and plot are both witty and engaging. I found myself concerned less with the things Gehrman's character's were saying than how they were saying them. Note: this title is not in CLC's library. This book has a well received sequel which is a retelling of another favorite classic. Click here to watch a book trailer.

Draper's: Romiette and Julio

The developing romance and lives of two teens of differing socio-economic backgrounds are threatened by a local gang. There is not much in the way of Shakesperean style or element here except for perhaps the main character's names: Romiette Capelle, an African American teen from Cincinnati and Julio Montague, an hispanic teen from Corpus Cristi. This book may be enjoyed by the teen reader glossing over references to car phones, cellular phones, and chatrooms. The two main characters and their supporting sidekicks are written charmingly enough and seem to have more sense than their respective sets of parents. The parents, though their dialogue at times is somewhat telling and awkward, actually experience more change than their children. The ditzy co-anchor subplot dialogue tends to be insulting rather than providing the comic relief as it was probably intended. Note: this title is not in CLC's library.