From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up–When the love of his life rejects his invitation to the senior prom, Jack Grammar's so-called best friends pose as Jack and run a personal ad in the online school newspaper soliciting a date. At first, the teen is not amused, but he agrees to go along with the plan because his friends have a list of girls eager to go out with him. In fact, it is hard to avoid the young ladies who descend on him without warning. The result is a hilarious adventure as Jack tries to speed-date 24 girls in 7 days. The author cleverly gives just enough details about each girl's personality to make her a real character, and these girls are characters. The adults are wonderful role models without being didactic. As if dating isn't enough, Jack has to contend with a mysterious online pen pal who gives him dating advice. The author superbly keeps up the suspense about the big day to the very end. This entertaining guy's-eye view on dating, friendship, and understanding one's self is one that most libraries will want to own.
–Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Booklist
Gr. 8-11. When Jack Grammar was little, his sisters used to dress up and pretend he was their prom date. Now it is two weeks until his senior prom, something he's looked forward to since those days of pretend, and he is dateless. But Natalie and Percy, his two best friends, have a solution. Unbeknownst to Jack, they post an ad in the school's online newspaper and the challenge is on. Who will be Jack Grammar's prom date? Amid much angst, hilarity, and plot twists, Jack dates and discards girl after girl until the fateful day when he must choose. Bradley captures the trials of many nice-guy teenage boys, who are insecure in today's high-school culture of dating and in need of an infusion of self-confidence. Jack and his friends are fully developed characters, full of promise and senioritis. Although the girls who court Jack border on stereotypes, the descriptive details are dead on. A satisfying dose of humor and reality in a "boy romance" that many readers may enjoy but are too embarrassed to request.
Frances BradburnCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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