Much Ado about Prom Night [Paperback]

William D. McCants (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1995

A peer counseling program, an angry school board, and a high-anxiety prom in a Southern California high school provide the background for this delightful, contemporary romantic novel. “This sassy caper lives up to its eye-catching cover.”--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This sassy caper lives up to its eye-catching cover (see p. 106). As in McCants's debut, Anything Can Happen in High School (and it usually does), the action-narrated in peppy surfspeak-centers on a bevy of ultra-hip but clean-cut California high schoolers with a penchant for defending their right to free speech. Becca, the outspoken narrator, and Jeff, the editor of the school paper, hide their true feelings for each other behind a wall of bickering. But when the Peer Counseling Network (PCN) Becca has organized is attacked by conservative parents, the squabbling teens find themselves working in tandem. Becca defends the PCN at a raucous school board meeting, sorts out her feelings for Jeff and finds herself a dream date for the upcoming prom. The PCN is a particularly nifty narrative gimmick, allowing readers glimpses of difficulties facing a variety of characters. Even better, the advice that Becca and her PCN "buds" dish up is plain-spoken, wise and fresh (it even includes tips on using body language to gauge the interest of a potential beau). Underneath all the bubbly fun, pre-dawn surfing and romantic sparring lies an earnest message about teen empowerment. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?Being involved in the Peer Counseling Network (PCN) at Luna Point High School, CA, gives Becca Singleton a great opportunity to help solve "vexing probs." Her surfing pal and best bud, Kayla, is in love with their other best friend, Zoner, also a peer counselor. Becca's boyfriend dumps her, and her younger brother is strangely uncommunicative and disobedient. Worst of all, Jeff Gardiner, the powerful school newspaper editor, constantly attacks PCN as a waste of time. As Becca and Jeff verbally spar over almost every issue, their romantic interest in one another grows. Then an angry school board accuses PCN of encouraging students to have sex on prom night and promoting the use of condoms instead of abstinence. Much Ado About Prom Night is jammed full of contemporary social issues, including free speech and teen sex and romance, revolving around the anxieties of not having a date for the big dance. McCants writes with a comfortable intimacy about the teen psyche and cleverly incorporates contemporary speech and popular culture into this highly enjoyable novel. YAs will identify with the angst and frustrations of high school life, and the joys and the embarrassments of Becca and her friends. And the ebb and flow of this book's natural tide of emotions will have the audience riding a wave of satisfaction through to the end.?Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (June 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015200081X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152000813
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,449,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, May 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Much Ado about Prom Night (Paperback)

Normally I don't send in a review, but this book was so good I just had to! I read this book in 2 hours! I couldn't put it down! It talks about real-life problems and is funny too! After I read it I gave it to my friends to read and the loved it too! This is the best book I have ever read!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars !!!:)!!!, March 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Much Ado about Prom Night (Hardcover)

The total best romance book i've read lately. It totally rocks! Is up to date and very cool.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK BLEW ME AWAY!!, June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Much Ado about Prom Night (Paperback)

Wow! This is one of the best young adult books I've ever read. It talks about all of the questions that teenagers may have on their minds these days. And it has some great jokes in it that'll make you laugh even when the subject isn't all that funny. I loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down. So good in fact that I read it in less than one day. This is a book that every teen should read.