Truth or Dairy [Paperback]

Catherine Clark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2000

She's humiliated, she's angry....and she's through with boys. Or least that's what she says.

This is the journal of Courtney Von Dragen Smith: middle child, product of divorce, would-be vegetarian. She writes the first mega-negative page the day after her boyfriend, "Such a Dave," breaks up with her because he's heading off to college. Angry and humiliated, Courtney vows to survive senior year on the anti-guy plan. But can she really give up guys and focus on friends, school, and her job at the hip café Truth or Diary? Or will a stint in student government, an epileptic dog, and a guy named Grant ("like-the-lake") Superior turn her world upside down and prove her journal right?

It's true: life can get weirder.

2001 ALA Popular Paperback for YAs

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In another entry in the burgeoning category of Bridget Jones's Diary-esque YA novels, Clark's (What's So Funny About Ninth Grade?) tale may lack the bite of Rosie Rushton's recent Fab Five series and the wit of this season's Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (reviewed Mar. 20), but it still hits adolescent themes head-on and with self-deprecating humor. "I realize I may be psycho and also boyfriendless. And if so, I'm at risk of being a stereotype," writes heartbroken 17-year-old Courtney Von Dragen Smith, who finds solace in a diary after being dumped by her college-bound boyfriend, Dave, at the onset of senior year. Courtney's tendency to self-sabotage (such as straying off her soy mocha and tempeh burger diet for self-pity-induced hot-dog splurges) and her quest for self-improvement (e.g., her list of how to deal with the changes in her life: "1. Hate Dave. 2. Try to move on by getting involved with other things. Which I am already doing by getting involved in student council. 3. Stop obsessing about Dave. Which I will do this instant") also invoke her older British contemporary. Set in present-day Colorado, the novel (named for the ice cream vs. healthy smoothie caf? where Courtney works) follows the protagonist through the first five months of senior year as she attempts to get over Dave, deal with a student council funds imbroglio and cope with trouble at her job, while trying to stay true to her oath not to date anyone before graduation. Popular and vain, the character of Courtney doesn't exactly encourage sympathy, but as with Bridget, it is in her flaws that her voice rings true. Ages 13-up. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Courtney Von Dragen Smith's senior year gets off to a terrible start. Her boyfriend has broken up with her because he is going to college 30 minutes away and doesn't want to have a long-distance relationship. Also, she's bored with her job at the local Truth or Dairy caf? and confounded by her family's quirkiness. She decides not to date, even though there are a couple of attractive guys who show interest in her, and decides to run for vice president of the student council. Written in diary format, the novel has a strong narrative voice that gives readers insight into the protagonist and her feelings. This is especially evident after Courtney gets drunk at a party, which is reflected in her writing. The teen's quick wit gets her into many predicaments, all of which are humorously described. In the end, her family members resolve all of their issues. Her mom ends her conflict with the telephone company, the family's missing dog returns, and her sister comes out of the closet while at college, all of which make for a very pat ending. Courtney realizes how unfair she has been to a boy who has tried to befriend her, to her best friend, and to her brother. Her misadventures will appeal to slightly brainy girls who sometimes need to be reminded that life is a journey. An ephemeral paperback for those who take their literature "lite."-Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (May 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380814439
• ISBN-13: 978-0380814435
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,856,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun story for diary lovers, May 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Truth or Dairy (Paperback)

Another diary that will remind readers of Bridget Jones's Diary, although the narrator of this one, high school senior Courtney Smith, is less obsessed with weight and finding a man (although her relationships with various men play a large part in the story). Just before senior year begins, Courtney's boyfriend Dave breaks up with her. He's leaving for college in a nearby town, and thinks they need the space. Like most of the other problems in the story, this is treated lightly and with humor, although Courtney expresses her frustration with Dave and vows not to date again that year. Her plan is foiled by Dave's friend, Grant, who is a senior like Courtney, and who makes his interest in her clear almost as soon as Dave leaves. In addition, Courtney wins the position of ASB vice-president alongside a notorious womanizer, Tom Delaney, and struggles with his attitude and treatment of girls. Other complexities in the story involve her best friend's secret romance, her mother's ongoing battle with the phone company, her effort to maintain vegetarianism, and her father's new marriage and step-grandchild. Many more serious novels would crumble under the weight of so many issues, but in Truth or Dairy they become a source of humor. As with Bridget Jones's life, Courtney's is full of goofy misadventures and misunderstandings, and the occasional slapstick situation, and she generally pulls through without much damage. The story doesn't have any profound insights into the human condition, and the light, almost immature voice might not appeal to more mature readers, but in general, the plot is compelling and the story fun, with an ending that leaves open the possibility of a sequel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reality with a Hilarious Twist, June 27, 2002

By 

Ashley (The Land of Oz) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Truth or Dairy (Paperback)

This book was a fun read. It starts out with Courtney who is a vegetarian and works at Truth or Dairy where they sell smoothies and wheatgrass drinks, etc. getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend, Dave. Dave thinks they need to be apart when he goes to college.

So Courtney makes a pledge. No boys all senior year. Seems easy enough at the time considering she's in a slight depression. But what happens when Grant Superior comes around? What about other guys like the Tom? Can she keep her pledge?

It doesn't end just there though. Many fun characters throughout the book who you can't help to remember make this diary type form book one you will remember.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truth or Dairy, March 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Truth or Dairy (Paperback)

Truth or Dairy is the journal of a girl named Courtney Von Dargen Smith. She is a normal girl living a happy life. She is entering her senior year of highschool. She works at Truth of Dairy, the local hip cafe with her best friend Beth. Her boyfriend is heading on to college and tells Courtney that he would like to be free and clear. Courtney just can't seem to get him out of her mind. She is so angry and sad that she decides to make an anti-guy plan for senior year. Then she becomes close with her ex-boyfriend's friend. She struggles to keep her anti-guy pact.
Truth of Dairy is a good book and it is fun to read. Courtney goes through a lot of typical teen situations and it is fun to read about how she describes time in her diary. This book keeps your interest and you can't put it down. This book is more geared toward teenage girls. I recommend this book if you like a book with a little romance and a lot of excitment.