Customer Reviews

The Blonde of the Joke

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4 star:		(1)
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Before Francie Knight comes along, Valentina is pretty much a nothing. She has no more friends since they all moved away. Francie and Valentina seem to be total opposites; Francie is the big-haired blonde, the girl that catches everyone's attention, but Val is the brunette, the quiet one that fades into the background. They would make the most unlikely duo. However, the day that Francie calls out Val's name in the mall, Val knows her life will never be the same. And it isn't. The two new friends team up to shoplift, a new skill for Val but an old one for Francie. According to Francie, they don't steal because they want something, but because it already belongs to them. But a talent for shoplifting and Francie's unpredictable attitude change Val and leaves the reader thinking, who really is the blonde of the joke?
The Blonde of the Joke was a funny and impressive novel. Francie isn't completely likable because of all the lies she tells and just how she comes off as a jerk. As the novel progresses, though, cracks begin to show in her pretty mask, and Val begins to see that Francie really isn't such a great person. I didn't really like Val that much either. At first, she was a loner who basically pitied herself all the time; then she became slightly more likable when she became friends with Francie. However, in the end, Val turned out to be worse than Francie. Even though I didn't like the characters, I really loved the story. Throughout the novel, there's this constant wanting for more that both friends feel. It's so strong that it almost takes over their lives, but while one of the them learns that she can't depend on shoplifting, the other gets caught.


The Blonde of the Joke is actually pretty confusing, but one of the messages is pretty clear: sometimes, the only person you can depend on is yourself. I recommend this novel for people looking for a though-provoking read.

THE BLONDE OF THE JOKE
BENNETT MADISON
YA contemporary
Harper Collins

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Val knew there was something different about Francie the first day she showed up in her Physics class. Blonde, brass, and gutsy, Francie was everything Val wanted to be. Then Francie decides to let her become her partner in shoplifting at the upscale mall. So both the mousy brunette and flashy blonde go on a wild ride of stealing. Francie sees something in Val, a wild streak. Val is unaware of this hidden part of herself. The risks for stealing get higher and both of them continue to shoplift. Along the way other secrets are revealed. Secrets that will either bring them closer or pull them apart.

I enjoy this story of a teen, who felt invisible at her school until Francie appears in her life. The voice is unique and engaging. At times hilarious and sarcastic, you can't help but be entertained. Francie is at times way over the top in her outrageous behavior. I could see why Val would be attracted to her. Val at first seems gullible but in fact is stronger than she thinks. The only thing I felt was missing was the secret of Val's dying brother. And the ending tended to be a bit abrupt.

The secrets of shoplifting were very revealing. Who knew what a simple rubber band could accomplish? What makes this book engaging is how Val opens up from her shell to the very end when she makes a final decision that turns her life upside down.

Bennett Madison learned everything about shoplifting from working at the Gap. He lives in New York City. You can visit him at [...]

Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 09

The Blonde of the Joke is a story of Valentina Martinez and her journey of self-discovery over her freshman year at Sandra Dee High. To start, Val is the typical loner almost all characters in YA novels are; Friendless, invisible, irritating mother, pretty much fading into the background of a typical suburban malaise. She meets her opposite in Francie, who is brash, outspoken, and spectacularly sticks out in this cookie cutter world.

Much to Val's suprise, Francie notices her out of the background, and a friendship develops at a shopping mall, where Francie's fantastic stories of the Holy Grail and taking over the world spellbind the timid Val, bringing her under Francie's spell and embarking on a year long shoplifting spree.

Slowly, though, the realationship falls apart over the year, as secrets in each of their lives interfere with their relationship. The spell Francie casts over Val slowly fades away, as Val hardens and learns that she has to depend on herself.

The first third of this novel was very enjoyable, as the relationship between the girls develop. The narrative, however, falls apart soon after, as the character motivations become murkey, major characters appear with little depth (such as Jesse, Liz, Sandy, and especially Max), and Val morphs from a sympathetic to unlikeable character. Val's relationship with her brother, a major motivator if the story, is never fully explained(he's dying and unreliable...that's about all we get). Likewise, Francie's mother, the primary factor in her breakdown, is never fleshed out(she's mentally ill and unreliable...that's about it).

The author Bennett Madison, while certainly gifted in prose, spends too much time and energy letting Val narrate her feelings rather than explaining what is going on. As an adult male, it is naturally difficult for Mr. Madison to try and fully express the thoughts and reactions of a 14 year old girl, and while his attempt is admirable, he falls short. He turns Val into an angst monster motivated by God knows what, rather than a complete character.

I found The Blonde of the Joke to be both enlightening and entertaining--so much so that after initial puzzlement, I could not put it down until I finished it. Although it was not intended specifically for my age group,by using fictional characters, the author gave me some insight into the bewildering(to me) lives of
some teenagers--their speech and dress habits and other manners and mores.The book is very well written--its descriptions being almost lyrical at times. It also delivered a message, which I didn't quite understand
but then I admit to being rather square. I hope Bennett Madison will write a book someday involving an older generation. He obviously has the talent.

Valentina has had friends throughout the years. But they all just seem to fade out and then she's left by herself again. She spends her time at the mall, hoping that one day something there will change her life. And what do you know, it actually happens.

While she's browsing the racks at the Wet Seal, Francie Knight taps on her shoulder. Francie is a very provocative girl in Val's class who has been seen around campus wearing the "raincoat."

Apparently, Francie is a major shoplifter, and soon Val is, too. All the girls ever do is hang out at the mall shoplifting basically whatever they can get their hands on in search of the "Holy Grail" - the one most amazing thing that they have ever seen in their life.

When Val isn't with Francie, she's worrying about her older brother, Jesse, who is mysteriously dying. Val has never really understood why he is, but apparently it's going to happen someday soon. She's also starting to mess around a bit (behind Francie's back) with the very attractive boy that the girls met at the mall one day.

Francie also deals with her own problems involving her basically psychotic mother, who randomly disappears, and when Francie finds her she'll end up staying with her grandmother for a week or so while her mom checks herself into the hospital.

Soon Val gets a little tired of Francie's ways and decides she needs to do something. But how drastic will that something be?

THE BLONDE OF THE JOKE is one of those books that's kind of hard to summarize, but I definitely loved it. Francie's character was so out there, and soon Val's character was, too. I also loved the ending of the story, which wasn't too abrupt or unfinished.

All in all, this is a pretty great book. I definitely want to read something else by Bennett Madison now!

Reviewed by: Breanna F.