Mates, Dates and Portobello Princesses [Paperback]

Cathy Hopkins (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mates, Dates | Publication Date: September 27, 2001

Nesta has met the perfect boy: good-looking, fun, sweet. But there are problems too. Simon's from a rich, upper-class background with a lifestyle to match and it's difficult for Nesta to keep up. And then there's Simon's friend Cressida. The ice queen. The Portobello Princess. Not one to give in, Nesta is determined to impress the new crowd, but finds herself out of her depth. Luckily she has Lucy and Izzie to help her reassess what really matters...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–The third book in Cathy Hopkins' Mates, Dates series is loads of fun. Published in the U.S. as Mates, Dates and Designer Divas (Simon Pulse, 2003), the Portobello in the title refers to Portobello Road, a tony section of London. The story is conveyed in short, pithy chapters interspersed with diary entries, text, and Instant Messages. Taking the point of view of Nesta, a lovely half Jamaican, half Italian girl who meets the rich boy of her dreams, Simon, on the train, the plot flutters along light and easy. She and her two best friends, Lucy and Izzie, are determined to make the best of themselves, yet Nesta feels she has to try and keep up with Simon's sister and her snobby friend, Cressida (the Portobello Princess) in order to win Simon's heart. Sharp and funny, and touching lightly on some serious issues–racial prejudice, class differences, teen drinking–Nesta expresses all the self-centered teenage angst necessary for a quite predictable, yet unexpectedly poignant turn of events. Melissa Eccleston narrates with great style and verve, giving each character his or her own distinctive voice. It's not necessary to have read any of the other books in the series to follow this one, but after listening to this title, students will want to read and/or listen to the others.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, Oxford, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From AudioFile

The irresistible Nesta and her girlfriends, Lucy and Izzie, are back. Nesta has found the perfect boy, but she also needs her friends to keep her grounded. Melissa Eccleston gives a good-natured profile of each girl while subtly demonstrating how much the girls share despite the differences in their goals, values, and family lives. Nesta's beloved is Simon, whose wealthy background is in stark contrast to her "financially challenged" family. Eccleston masters the speech patterns of the varying classes and pokes fun at prejudice. A pleasant surprise is her lovely voice as she sings a vocal composition by one of the girls. Teens will identify with this timely gem. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Piccadilly Press Ltd (September 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853406643
• ISBN-13: 978-1853406645
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #835,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Warning: Buyer Beware, March 14, 2005

By 

Stephen L. Martin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mates, Dates and Portobello Princesses (Paperback)

If you are collecting this series of books by Cathy Hopkins, this book is the same book as Mates, Dates and and Designer Divas, but with a different title.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Listening, January 6, 2009

By 

Anne Lagache "Yenne" (Orinda, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mates, Dates And Portobello Princesses (Audio CD)

The Mates, Dates series is really enjoyable to listen to or read. It's about teenagers in London, but I'm a 45 year old who enjoys the adventures of these youths. This particular episode is appropriate for anyone who over thinks what people might be thinking about them, and how one should strive to be one's self, always. I like Cathy Hopkins' style and language.