How I Created My Perfect Prom Date [Mass Market Paperback]

Todd Strasser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1998

Nicole is committed to making the world a better place, but first she wants to get to her senior prom. So when the guy she's had her eye on for months unexpectedly invites another girl, Nicole decides to transform her grungy next-door neighbor, Chase, into a dream date.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I, Nicole Maris, swear that I'm going to get serious about life. Really. I'm going to find a cause or a disease or something to devote myself to." So promises our young heroine--that is, just as soon as she secures an appropriate prom date. Nicole is a confirmed member of the (capital P) Popular crowd, and as such, just any old date won't do. She's got her heart set on hunky Brad Selden, but when he asks someone else she's left scrambling for an escort. Her next-door neighbor and childhood friend Chase--with his grungy look and class clown behavior--is hardly a ready candidate. But the ambitious Nicole is hell-bent on a successful makeover, as well as convincing the whole school they're a real couple.

Told in alternating chapters from Nicole's and Chase's points of view, this frog-to-prince tale of prom and popularity skips along at a rapid pace with funny, realistic dialogue and plenty of plot twists and turns. A secondary story line featuring Nicole's mom and Chase's dad adds depth to the lightweight romp, and also sets up the cliffhanger ending. Fans of Todd Strasser's witty work will also enjoy How I Changed My Life and How I Spent My Last Night on Earth, two more titillating titles about the students of Time Zone High. (Ages 12 and older) --Brangien Davis

From Publishers Weekly

Formerly titled Girl Gives Birth to Own Prom Date, this companion novel to How I Changed My Life follows Nicole, who plans to shape Chase into the perfect prom escort after she's jilted by her ideal Brad. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689820747
• ISBN-13: 978-0689820748
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,953,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Todd Strasser is the author of more than 120 novels for teens
and middle graders, including If I Grow Up, Boot Camp, Can't Get There From Here, Give a Boy a Gun, the Impact Zone series, and the DriftX series. He lives in a suburb of New York and speaks frequently at schools.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Resort, January 2, 2003

By 

Marsalis Higgs (Anywhere, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Created My Perfect Prom Date (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a good John Hughes-ish novel. It's written well, practically perfect in a way that sounds so realistic that it's pretty eerie. Maybe not really eerie, but still. It's about love and make-overs.

In this story of star-crossed lovers, we meet the preppy Nicole who's popular, school-spirited and fashion friendly. Nicole is part of the elite clique at school, where everyone lives in nice houses and their parents are always out. Our other protaganist is the grungey Chase, who's antisocial, idealistic and angsty. Chase is part of a bored group of Ninetendo, computer-chatting buds who seem consist of a designated driver and a geeky idiot. They've been living next-door since they can remember but they aren't friends anymore, of course.

The story doesn't end here.

It all begins when Nicole is waiting for the ever-so popular jock, Brad Selden, to ask her to the prom. She waits by the phone, hints to him and flirts but nothing happens. She feels that all is hopeless until--BAM!--he finds someone else. And it happens to be Chase's ex-girlfriend, Dulcie. Of course, Nicole is thinking "What the H***?" while Chase is confused himself. Then Nicole gets an interesting idea--why doesn't she and Chase go?

Oh about no . . . says Chase. But Nicole gives him a complete American Eagle/Abecrombie make-over that sends Chase's army cargos out in the Dumpster. Soon Chase is a hot preppie, being Nicole's little puppet and soon her "love slave." But what happens when Nicole actually starts to LIKE Chase?

Hmm, the plot thickens. Typical teen story, eh? Well, too bad, because this was an amazing potrayel of modern teenage life filled with friendship, cliques, hopes, failures, and of course, love. Another Todd Strasser novel mixed with John Hughes's ideas.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prom Date's Are Hard to Find ..., June 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: How I Created My Perfect Prom Date (Mass Market Paperback)

***** Five stars! At first it was confusing, going back and fourth through the different people but it was worth it! I (20 & single) had a sensational time reading it to my neice (who is 10)!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific read!!, August 29, 2001

By 

claire (Cambridge, England.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How I Created My Perfect Prom Date (Mass Market Paperback)

Thank you Todd, for writing this extremely comical approach to a typical teenage dilemma! I'm surpised that it hasn't had more publicity, i recommend this novel to every teenager who isn't afraid to admit that they would love to be Nicole or Chase secretly. Read this book.