Lost It, Kristen Tracy, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, 288 pp.
I found this book at Barnes and Noble bookstore.
Summary: Tess Whistle is a high school junior who is being raised by two strict parents. Tess has an extreme fear of pretty much anything that is outside of her house, wild animals and driving. Tess has the fear that she will be attacked by an animal and cautious Bob’s segments about, “things that could go bad” encourage those thoughts. Tess has never had a boyfriend, and strongly believes that she is going to wait until she is married to, “lose it.” Her best friend is named Zena, has a very strong personality and is definitely a partner in crime. Benjamin Easter is the boy who changes everything, he is the nice guy that is new to town and before long Tess is falling for him. Everyone one of the characters carries their own story, but it just proves that nothings perfect and life is extremely fragile. All of the characters provide plenty to laugh about and great life lessons as well.
The audience is teenage girls looking for a good laugh and some deep life lessons.
The style is first person narrative, Tess the main character goes back to the first day of school to tell the story. The story is written as a teenager would speak, not too challenging.
“I had waited to be pickled up in my driveway. But standing there, alone, in the dull morning light, made me feel way too vulnerable.”(6)
Passages:
“Two months into my junior year, I was still a virgin, and Zena hadn’t blown up anything…” (29)
At this point in the book you find that you still have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen next. For me these quirky little one-liner’s kept my curiosity about what could possible happen on the next page.
“In an attempt to activate their students’ interest in the material, certain teachers had spread the word that Whitman was gay, Shakespeare had probably slept around… the school buckled under the barrage of complaints they received from concerned parents.”(35)
This passage made me laugh out loud while reading, causing my family to look at me like I was crazy. I found it funny that the teachers were telling their students this so that they’d be interested in doing the reading.
“My grandmother shrugged. Boobs are boobs. And yours are quite nice.”(126)
This is by far one of the most awkward moments in this entire book. If my grandmother ever said that to me I would have no idea what to say back. I really enjoyed the simple humor in this book.
My Relation: Tess whistle has to be one of the funniest main characters I have ever been introduced to. Throughout the entire book she keeps you laughing with her very intense fear of animals and crazy friends and family. Everyone thinks that their parents have lost their minds or that they are unreasonable but Tess’s parents have gone nuts. I could truly relate to how her family creates awkward moments, the grandma that always speaks her mind even when she shouldn’t, the over protective parents, and the awkward family dinners. I absolutely loved how this book not only was fun to read, but it leaves you thinking. The quotes and the characters all have their own deeper meanings but on the surface its pure craziness.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This book seems like a book i would really enjoy because I like to read about people who are about my age. I personally cannot relate to this girl because my parents are laid back but I can just imagine what it would be like to have strict parents. I think when parents are more strict teenagers just want to rebel more. I liked the quotes that Nicholina picked showed that this seems like a funny book and a book that you just want to keep reading. I think that I would really enjoy reading this book!
ReplyDeleteJulee beck
I have never read this book, but from reading the summary i think i would enjoy it. I like when books are written in first person becuase i find it easier to follow and it's nice to see the story coming from that persons point of view, and not a narrator. It also says that she goes back to the first day of school, and i like books that start a little in the present, but go back just a little bit so you can see how they got there. I completely agree with the response to the quote " My grandmother shrugged..." becuase that is really awkward and i'm not sure what i would say to my grandma if she ever said that to me. I hope to find this book and read it becuase it seems interesting.
ReplyDelete-Jill Frost
From the summary and presentation in class this books seems like I'd enjoy it. Books with humor and could possibly be realistic make a pretty good book. The quotes show that the book has an overall fun and humorus feel and that it'd keep my attention throughout the whole thing. Books that have a person telling what happens with themselves is always enjoyable for me because i seem to understand them more and the book is a lot easier to read!
ReplyDeleteThis book seems incredibly funny. I think from the description the humor in the book was the best part. Especially the passage about the grandmother because I feel like almost every family has that one person who will speak their mind. I think that I would have experienced most of the same feelings as the poster because the book seemed really good and hilarious at the same time. Just from the summary I think I would enjoy reading this book. Amanda Tesini
ReplyDelete