From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up–The author of
The True Meaning of Cleavage (Atheneum, 2003) again perceptively explores the psyche of teenagers. Judith, 15, believes it's safest to "be invisible." The previous year she was attacked as she walked alone at night and still feels powerless to tell anyone about the incident. Her former best friend refuses to acknowledge her existence and her divorced father lives 3000 miles away. The only place where she feels free to be anyone she wants to be is in the online role-playing game she's addicted to, in which her character is always male. After Irgan, her Internet enemy, forfeits the right to kill her off, Judith drops out of the Game and becomes determined to learn his identity. She's surprised and intrigued to discover that he's a teenager with a reputation as a druggie and screw-up who lives in her apartment building. Despite her mother's misgivings, Judith and Jonathan become close as they act out a live role-playing game where there are no rules. Jonathan helps her deal with the attack and shows her that it's OK to be a girl. Judith also finds real friendship with Katie, an insecure girl she tutors in math. This novel realistically portrays young adults trying to find themselves, fit in, and resist the labels put on them. Judith is a strong character who will appeal to readers who like books by Sarah Dessen, Ann Brashares, Megan McCafferty, and Jaclyn Moriarty. Teens will also like the gaming and role-playing aspects.
–Sharon Rawlins, Piscataway Public Library, NJ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Gr. 7-10. Alienated from her best friend, Judith finds her current existence so frustrating and unsatisfactory that she joins an online game, taking on the persona of Gareth, a self-confident teenage boy who can intimidate even the most aggressive characters. Little does she know, one of her opponents is actually her across-the-hall, bad-boy neighbor, Jonathan Heitman. Fredericks, author of
The True Meaning of Cleavage (2003), uses the contemporary online gaming environment to reveal age-old truths about friendship, parents, and the struggles of growing up in an unforgiving high-school environment. Judith, Jonathan, and new friend Katie are real teens, each saddled with shallow, unfair reputations: Judith, possibly gay; Jonathan, a troubled druggie; Katie, fat, stupid, and rich. Their attempts at friendship and survival in a hostile high school and, for Jonathan and Katie, in troubled family environments will ring true to all teens who see themselves as outsiders.
Frances BradburnCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
