When Audrey Met Alice

Being First Kid would be awesome, right?  Well, maybe not...

Rebecca Behrens' When Audrey Met Alice is a great blend of contemporary & historical fiction.

Audrey Rhodes' mother is the President, making her First Daughter (aka FIDO...poor girl)- it's hard enough for her to make friends, but when her epic birthday party is cancelled due to a security breach, she's ready to throw in the towel.  That night, though, she finds Alice Roosevelt's journal hidden in the floor boards.  Will the former First Daughter's words help Audrey navigate life in the White House?

This was such a fun read!  And very educational and interesting.  I had actually never known about Alice Roosevelt, and now I regret that (but! have some books coming on "Princess Alice.")  She was so feisty, spunky and fun! I, for one, did not know that we were doing yoga here in the US in 1901.

The book tackles multiple issues, but a central issue is gay rights.  Both now, and back when Alice was First Daughter.  Audrey's Uncle Harrison and his boyfriend Max live in Madison (Yay! Wisconsin mention!).  Since Harrison's sister is the President, the issue is approached by many of the current characters.  We discover, too, that Alice was an advocate for gay rights, and received a letter calling her an "honorary homosexual."  It's true!  I Googled it!  Other themes in the book are parent-child relationships, smoking, responsibility, and love (or crushes).

Audrey and Alice also raise the question about life in the White House, and whether or not it's a fairy tale.  Especially harder for Audrey, with the rise of social media, she feels imprisoned.  So, it may be like a fairy tale, but perhaps one like "Rapunzel" where she's locked in the tower.

Life is hard enough when you're thirteen.  It's a hormonal/emotional roller-coaster in the first place, and it's when you're beginning to discover yourself.  To not have that freedom to find yourself would be so much worse.  Audrey could do worse than looking to Alice Roosevelt to help her through the First Family rough patch.

I would recommend this for middle-grade girls, especially.  Those interested in history- I'd suggest it as a step up from girls who like the American Girl series.  Like I said, it's a fun book!  I read it in a day and a half (darn work and sleep, getting in the way).  I learned so much I didn't know before, and wish Alice Roosevelt had been mentioned more in my history classes!

[Note for Educators: There are Common Core-aligned Guides for this title]

When Audrey Met Alice is published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.  Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher.

Release Date: 02.04.2014

The Cute Girl Network

I loved this!  It was like Zits for the post-college crowd.  Absolutely get your hands on a copy of The Cute Girl Network by Greg Means, MK Reed, and Joe Flood.

Skater girl Jane is new in town.  When she falls (literally) for kind, funny, absent-minded Jack, her roommates call the underground network of girls in the area: The Cute Girl Network.  Jack's dating history is a bit, um, colorful, and they want to make sure she doesn't make the same mistakes other girls did with dating him.  Will Jane be scared off by Jack's dating history, or will Jack win her over?

Oh goodness, I loved this.  I connected so much with the characters (I'm assuming this is because I'm not too far gone from that period in my life).  The Cute Girl Network was fresh and funny.  Great for twenty-somethings.

There's a Twilight parody book group, with Jane and her roommates.  O...M...G...I laughed so hard.  Then went back and read it again.  The characters are developed well-I loved Jane's roommate Wendy (who's making a documentary about girls and how they interact while playing).  The dialogue between Jack and his roommates, and Jane and hers, is so familiar.  As in, I have had those conversations and behaved that way with friends.

The artwork is black and white, somewhat reminiscent of Craig Thompson.  The details in the larger scenes were astounding.  I kept going back to just stare.  There's a vending machine graveyard, and all I could think was "I want to go to there."  

I may categorize it as a YA book, but it will definitely resonate with those in their 20s and 30s. It's a great story, with captivating artwork.   It makes you question: at what point do you stop listening to others, and start listening to yourself?





The Cute Girl Network is published by :01 First Second (a division of Macmillan).  Review copy graciously provided by the publisher.
Release Date: 11.12.2013