If you haven’t heard from Ally Carter or Standhart yet, you need to read Sweethearts.Â
It’s funny (okay, so it’s a drama) that the book has some plot, but not in a giant way.Â
It’s life, and that’s alright. How do we define ourselves? Can we/do we change from junior high to high school and beyond? This is a great follow-up to Story of a Girl. The characters and setting are very believable and the serious issues are dealt with in a respectful, and intriguing, way that doesn’t downplay but also makes it accessible to junior high students.
A first-time novelist, Polly Shulman succeeds with Enthusiasm. Even if  students don’t catch the Pride and Prejudice references, it’s still a fun book. “He said, she said, but does he really mean this?” situations make this a great romantic comedy.Â
Librarians – get both of these books. Students – read both of these books. Authors – make more of these books.Â