Crazy In Love [Hardcover]

Dandi Daley Mackall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 18, 2007

High school senior Mary Jane Ettermeyer has been struggling to be the good girl for a long time, and so far, she’s been able to keep her pledge of abstinence. But when the cutest guy in school starts flirting with her, she suddenly finds herself crazy in love, even though a) Jackson House can’t possibly think she’s cute, so this must be a joke and b) she’s vowed to keep herself pure until marriage and c) he shouldn’t even be talking to her, because he already has a girlfriend!

With perception, honesty, and plenty of humor, bestselling author Dandi Daley Mackall deftly explores that wild roller coaster of a ride called first love.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—Mary Jane, 17, is a good student, adores her mentally challenged older sister, and has a loving family. She also has a huge crush on Jackson House, Star Simons's sexy boyfriend. When Mary Jane and Jackson take her car to get more soda during a party, almost immediately her friends start ignoring her and other boys call for dates. It turns out that Star is spreading rumors that Mary Jane is easy. Then Jackson breaks up with Star, and Mary Jane's life is transformed. The two are together constantly, and Jackson really seems to love her. That's why she is so tempted when he tells her that, with his parents away, they can be alone together in his house the night after Thanksgiving. Even after buying sexy undies, though, Mary Jane realizes that she wants to wait until she finds someone who will spend his whole life with her, in marriage. Reluctantly, Jackson accepts her decision, and the novel ends with Mary Jane wondering whether they'll remain a couple. Despite her fear of losing him, she knows that she'll be OK eventually either way. Mackall hits the nail on the head with her poignant description of first love and sexual yearning. The protagonist is an average middle-class girl who struggles hard with her decision. Teens will relate to her and will be disappointed when the story ends.—Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY
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About the Author

Dandi Daley Mackall is the author of numerous books for children, including Larger-Than-Life Lara. She lives in West Salem, Ohio, with her husband and their three children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (January 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525477802
• ISBN-13: 978-0525477808
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,307,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dandi won her first writing contest as a 10-year-old tomboy. Her 50 words on "Why I Want to Be Batboy for the Kansas City A's" won first place, but the team wouldn't let a girl be batboy. It was her first taste of rejection.
Since then, Dandi Daley Mackall has become an award-winning author of over 400 books for children of all ages, with sales of 4 million copies in 22 countries. Recent picture books with Sleeping Bear Press include Legend of Ohio, Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story (Notable Book 2008 - Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People National Council of Social Studies & Children's Book Council; winner of the Angel Award, 2008; Winner of the "Award of Excellence" from Chicago Book Show 2007) and 2008 release, A Girl Named Dan (her own "batboy" story, and a lesson on Title IX), 2 Mom's Choice Awards & Amelia Bloom Award. Eva Underground, Harcourt young adult novel, nominated ALA Best Book 2007, starred Kirkus review, awarded a Top Teen Read by New York Public Library, finalist for Ohioana Award, was based on the author's experiences behind the Iron Curtain. Love Rules was awarded Romantic Times' Top Pick. Middle-grade fiction, Larger-than-Life Lara, Dutton/Penguin, which teaches how to write, while tackling the problem of bullying, is on the KY Bluegrass Award List 2007-8; William Allan White Award list, 2008-9; KS and KY Children's Choice lists. Her Winnie the Horse Gentler series has sold over half a million books and Starlight Animal Rescue is a Gold Medallion finalist. Dandi received the 2009 Helen Keating Ott Award for distinguished contribution toward promoting high moral and ethical values in children and young adult literature. She also received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 2008 from the University of Missouri. Dandi is a national speaker, keynoting at conferences and Young Author events, and has made dozens of appearances on TV, including ABC, NBC, and CBS. Visit Dandi at www.dandibooks.com, winniethehorsegentler.com, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85oaIUbJ8j8

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Brings back old memories, December 29, 2009

By 

L. Gonzales "Laura's always LOL" (Suburb of Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crazy in Love (Kindle Edition)

I really enjoyed this book so much that I stayed up until 3AM because I couldn't put it down. Has some great funny parts and is well written. It was like being back in school dealing with the 'girls' all over again. I would have rated it 5 stars but the ending left me wanting just a little bit more. Overall it is quite enjoyable.

4.0 out of 5 stars Crazy in Love, July 26, 2008

By 

Jennifer Dieleman "book worm" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crazy in Love (Paperback)

Crazy in Love was a sweet book, but it didn't match up to the other books by this author. This is a Christian author but from this book you would not be able to tell. This story focuses more on good morals then what God has to say about teen issues such as sex. Truth be told I was a little disappointed in this story line. I expected a lot more from this author, especially since she wrote Maggie's story, which is an amazing story about the life of Jesus. This is still a sweet story wit a nice ending but it lacked the conviction that her other stories have had.

3.0 out of 5 stars A great Read!, February 11, 2008

By 

annmmar "ASMB" (Bronx, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crazy In Love (Hardcover)

Mary Jane Ettermeyer has a big dilemma.She has a huge crush on Jackson House who happens to already have a girlfriend. Mary Jane makes the mistake of being too friendly with him at a friends house. She is evenutally accuse by the boy's girlfriend friends that she was flirting and is trying to take him away. Mary Jane starts this battle in her head the good girl mary jane versus the hot m.j who challenges her to go after jackon house and dont care about what no one says. The battle line begins thereafter with the girlfriend of Jackson House Star Simons spreading rumors about Mary Jane to the jocks. Her friends Cassie, Nicole and the gang are ganging up on her saying she is doing a horrible thing. It gets to a point where Mary Jane feels trapped and alone. Jackon House does finally admit his feelings to Mary Jane and breaks up with Star. Mary Jane and Jackson finally get together and its all the wonderful bliss she thought it would be. Then comes a moment of truth does she break her rule of abstinence or keep it. I truly enjoyed this book and could not put it down.