Klepto [Hardcover]

Jenny Pollack (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2006

Julie Braverman is the coolest person Julie Prodsky has ever met. During their freshman year (1981–1982) at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, the previously unexplored world of flirting, freedom, and fashion is revealed to Julie P. through the eyes of her new best friend. Learning the secret to Julie B.’s collection of Fiorucci jeans—shoplifting — only makes Julie P. admire her more. Before long Julie P. has her own closet full of stolen clothing, and a new boyfriend. Then Julie P.’s conscience catches up with her. She wants to stop shoplifting, but Julie B. doesn’t.Without stealing, can this friendship survive?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8-10-Julie Prodsky, a freshman at the High School of the Performing Arts in New York City, makes fast friends with Julie Braverman, a popular girl with an impressive designer wardrobe. Soon Julie B. teaches her the essentials of shoplifting and the pals begin getting at stores throughout the city. Julie P. is delighted with her new friend, although her conscience begins troubling her. Caught by a security officer at Bloomingdale's and let go with a slap on the wrist, she seeks the help of a therapist. The girls part ways when Julie P. refuses to go on a shopping trip with Julie B. When they reconcile, Julie P. learns that her friend was apprehended at another store and is now trying to reform. Set in the '80s, the book is mainly about shoplifting to fit in with peers but also deals with first love and family dynamics. Sadly, parents in the book are mostly oblivious to their daughters' acquisitions. The sprinkling of swear words does not add to the story and some characters are less memorable than the lists of designer clothing mentioned each time the Julies go shopping. There are plenty of how-to ideas about shoplifting, but one hopes that readers would not act on them.-Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-11. The subtitle says it all. In her debut novel, Pollack has wrapped three juicy, sure-to-appeal elements into an appealing package, complete with a pink, ultrafeminine cover. It's the early 1980s, and Julie Prodsky, a native New Yorker, is a freshman at the famed High School of the Performing Arts. On her first day, she meets very cool, very friendly Julie Braverman, who introduces her to the fine points of "getting" (shoplifting). Soon, the girls' closets are full of purloined goods. Then Julie P. suffers pangs of remorse and goes to a therapist to help her deal with her kleptomania, which triggers a blowup with Julie B. First love comes in the form of a handsome junior, who, predictably, does narrator Julie P. wrong. The rather formulaic story is firmly anchored by references to the popular culture of the time, including lengthy descriptions of clothes, but readers won't be deterred by the firm sense of style or place as the plot is nearly irresistible. Debbie Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (March 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670060615
• ISBN-13: 978-0670060610
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,154,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in New York City and went to Little Red School House, H.S. of Performing Arts (now Laguardia) and Barnard College. Now I live in Brooklyn with my husband Rob and son Charlie (he'll be 2 on May 31!) and our 2 cats Mike & Harry. It's a pretty good life, I'm a lucky gal. In addition to writing I teach drama part time as a guest artist and work part time in public relations. I come from a theater background, got a Masters in acting, directing and playwriting from Trinity Rep Conservatory (Providence RI), and while I haven't acted in some years I think I will one day again. Maybe one day I'll turn Klepto back into a one-woman show, starring me!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fast-paced, timely book! Realistic characters!, March 29, 2008

By 

Betty L. Dravis "BETTY DRAVIS, author/reviewer" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Klepto (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a fast-paced, entertaining YA book that all girls--young and old alike--should read.

Some say it's about how peer pressure can get kids into trouble, but this beautifully-written novel is much more than that: It's about teen-age insecurity, friendship, first experiences ... and, above all, it's about how being honest and doing the right thing pays off in the end.

When the main character, fourteen-year-old Julie Prodsky becomes friends with Julie Braverman at her new high school, she looks up to her popular new friend, desiring to be more like her. So when Julie B. introduces her to shoplifting, Julie P. bows to peer pressure and goes along with it. It soon becomes a habit and she builds a wardrobe of the hottest designer clothing of the '80s. She knows stealing is wrong and her heart isn't in it, but she finds it hard to resist and begins to suspect she may be a kleptomaniac. She also fears angering and upsetting her new friend.

And just her luck, while she's trying to think of a way to stand up for her own principles and express her true feelings to Julie B., they get caught! Poor Julie P.!

Author Jenny Pollack does such a fine job of bringing her characters to life that your heart will break for these troubled teens, especially the heroine who is very sad at parties when she's not "cool" like the rest of them. Readers will empathize with Julie P. as they look back on their own anxieties during their teen years. I, for one, rooted for Julie P. from page one; she was quite endearing as she struggled for self-acceptance, struggled to remain true to herself while trying to fit in with the others.

And stealing isn't the only age-inappropriate thing that Julie B. does! So how does the more honest, sensible Julie P. get out of this mess? What happens when she quits letting Julie B. control her life? Will their friendship survive? And how does Julie P.'s old boyfriend figure into this exciting, timely plot? And where are the kids' parents?

You will have an exciting reading adventure finding the answer to those questions as this young author leads you from one exciting scene to the next, with great skill and seeming ease.

This is a very good book, written in the voice of Julie P., whom the author portrays in such a realistic way you will think you're in the book, sharing the troubles and triumphs right along with the characters.

I recommend this book very highly and can't wait to read Jenny Pollack's next novel.

Reviewed by Betty, Dravis, 2008
The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KLEPTO IS AMAZING, September 20, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Klepto (Hardcover)

I loved this book. It talks about things that actually happen to teens that parents like to ignore and pretend dont happen. I just loved this book and can realte to it not becuase i steal but becuase of the friedship problems and other issues in the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, November 7, 2006

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Klepto (Hardcover)

Julie Prodsky is absolutely thrilled, yet anxious, to start at the famed High School of the Performing Arts in New York City. Julie feels like such a loser compared to all the talented and smart students in her freshman class, not to mention the upperclassmen. She worries about fitting in, and can't believe her luck when popular, pretty Julie Braverman notices her in the crowd and invites her to hang out at school.

The Julies' friendship starts to intensify, which thrills Julie P. because she hates hanging around her apartment with her dad, her overbearing mother, and annoying older sister. Julie P. is totally impressed with Julie B.'s fantastic wardrobe - the girl always has the latest jeans and the best brands. At first, Julie P. can't understand how she can afford everything, and then she learns the truth - Julie B. loves to shoplift. And she wants Julie P. to join in the fun.

What starts out as a harmless adventure begins to turn into an obsession for both the girls. The risks carry over into their social lives, too. Worried about being too good and too nice, Julie P. begins to smoke and drink with Julie B. at parties thrown for upperclassmen. She is determined to get her first kiss - and even more if she can.

Just when Julie P. thinks her life is about as good as it can get, the bubble bursts. How she handles this sudden crisis is about to change her life forever. All she knows is that her parents do not trust her, her friends are dropping her, and she can't make any relationship work out.

Jenny Pollack brings the 1980's back with her debut novel set in New York City. Pop culture references are everywhere and the retro tone will appeal to teen readers. Regardless of the time setting, teens will relate to Julie P.'s desire to fit in and how hard it is to resist peer pressure.

Give KLEPTO a try - it's definitely addicting.

Reviewed by: Samantha G.