Diving In

Children's Literature - Heidi Hauser Green

Readers of this titillating novel will be unsurprised to learn that it was originally published under the title Love Trilogy #1: Ready? It is a fairly typical teen romance, from the handsome, wealthy beau to the attractive, but insecure, sixteen-year-old heroine. Colette is a likeable enough girl. Candid about her sexual desires and strong enough to know her own mind, she is initially an appealing character. However, Colette becomes increasingly obsessed with the object of her affection, Art, and the story becomes more tedious. The secondary characters add little to the story. There is her frumpy uber-feminist mother, with whom Colette seems to have absolutely no connection. There is Greg, the good guy paramour-wanna-be who inspires nothing but sibling-like affection. There is Val, the best friend who supports Colette but just doesn't get it. But the novel is dominated by Art, and Colette's growing addiction to him. They meet at the community pool, where both swim on Thursday nights. From their first date, the teens are strongly attracted to each other, and soon they've moved from kissing to petting. Still, as good as she thinks Art makes her feel, she's not sure that she's ready to go all the way. When Art invites her along on a family weekend at the cottage, Colette is thrilled. At least, she is thrilled until she sees the double bed and realizes what Art is expecting for the weekend. Readers who enjoy the romance genre may be satisfied with this book, but this reviewer found the ending to be anticlimactic and disappointing.

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-The first title in British author Kate Cann's Love Trilogy series, and titled Ready? in its U.S. publication (HarperCollins, 2001), is a story about Collette, a 17-year-old who is mature and reflective in her search for a perfect romantic relationship. When Art, a handsome rich boy, asks her out after a brief conversation, she wonders what they will have in common and what he will like about her. In this play-by-play account of their relationship, Collette has to balance their differences and the influence of her feminist mother. Many questions arise for Collette. Why is she obsessing about not hearing from him? Is she abandoning her friends? Will he be appalled at her crazy household? Is the relationship getting too serious? Will he pressure her to go too far physically? Listeners will relate to Collette, a delightfully conflicted teenager. Be advised that the teens in this book, with parental permission, regularly drink alcohol, beer, wine, and spiked punch. There is also the British vernacular slang and some language dealing with sexuality. Amanda Hulme, an Australian theater actress, does a marvelous job of narrating in a vibrant, perky voice that is dead-on, making each character unique. Listeners will feel Collette's angst and excitement as she dives into romance. For older listeners who like chick lit with a positive message.-Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 7-9Although distinctively British in tone and language (including lots of British slang and some universally explicit language), this is really a conventional teenage romance, modernized to include issues such as date rape. Colette fantasizes about Art and, miraculously, ends up dating him. Wealthy and handsome, he pressures her about having sex. Although she is attracted to him, she's not ready; when he invites her to his family's summer cottage, she is furious to discover that he assumes she'll be delighted to sleep with him. Although Colette is an agreeable, believable heroine, grappling realistically with her dilemmas (unfortunately, her initial boldness and strength is replaced by her obsession with Art), the secondary characters are fairly one-dimensional: the best friend Val, almost abandoned once Colette starts going out with Art; the overweight, ex-hippie mother whose feminism consists of trashing men, including her meek husband; Art's rich, playboy father, etc. Several scenes strain credulity: Colette's mother confronts Art's parents for condoning their son's behavior, thus instantly improving her relationship with her daughter; Colette's reluctant participation in a self-defense class for women is a heavy-handed hint at subsequent events. In the end, she breaks up with Art and, in a nice reversal, he apologizes and pleads for another chance. Despite the flaws, this may be enjoyed by those who aren't baffled by the lingo or turned off by the lack of depth.Cyrisse Jaffee, formerly at Newton Public Schools, MA