From Publishers Weekly
Adolescent Adonis wannabe Jonah Black records his musings for posterity in the second volume of The Black Book: [Diary of a Teenage Stud] series. In Volume II: Stop, Don't Stop by Jonah Black, the hero recovers from a diving accident, slogs through school and attempts to understand his feelings for two different girls. PW wrote of Jonah in Volume I: Girls, Girls, Girls: "He's instantly likable, and his vulnerabilities, acute description and tenuous hold on reality make for gripping and often humorous reading."
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 & Up--Another volume of Jonah Black's journalistic wanderings. The teen's latest adventures begin with a crack on his head during a diving tournament, allowing him to delve further into his sometimes-hallucinogenic fantasies. He is still in love with Posie Hoff, he still longs for the elusive Sophie, and he is doing his best to figure out if his cyber-love is really the gorgeous Scandinavian girl she claims to be. Yes, like many 17-year-olds, Jonah's life and thoughts revolve around his dating aspiration. While all this is going on, he must also deal with the fact that his mother is breezing in and out of his life, just when he seems to need her the most. Readers finally discover the reason he was expelled from boarding school, and perhaps in the third, and final, book, they may find out exactly why Jonah did what he did. "The Black Book" diaries will speak to many teenagers, particularly reluctant readers. Jonah is today's Everyteen-pining away for his lost love, hanging up when he finally hears her voice, and struggling to deal with his own identity. His sexual musings and fantasies, while at times rather brash, seem incredibly real, and his longing for a complete family unit will mirror a desire that many adolescents harbor. Jonah's voice combines black comedy and realistic poignancy in a readable, appealing book for young adults.
Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WICopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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