Fiction - Social Issues, Teen Fiction - School, Teen Fiction - Sexuality, Teen Fiction - Romance & Friendship, Fiction - Emotions & Behaviors

Is He Or Isn't He?

Name: Is He Or Isn't He?
Author: John Hall
ISBN: 9780060787479

by John Hall, John Scognamiglio

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Overview

In the glittering world of New York City's richest and most famous prep school, best friends Paige and Anthony become equally entranced by the enigmatic, ever–so–cute new guy Max, but in order to snag him, they must first use their charms and wit to discover the truth–is he or isn't he?

Synopsis

Stephanie Squicciarini - KLIATT

Best friends Paige and Anthony have vowed to find boyfriends before the end of the school year. They both had their hearts broken during the summer, Anthony by his boyfriend Ian and Paige by her soap-opera star mother. When Felix, Anthony's rival, brings Max, the gorgeous son of a famous TV chef, to his end-of-summer party, Paige and Anthony both fall for him and begin plotting to find out if Max is gay or straight. Either way they believe they cannot lose because they are sure one of them will end up with him. Rather than just asking him, Paige and Anthony create schemes to try to trap Max into revealing his sexual preference. This scheming is made easier as there is virtually no parental involvement and there is an endless supply of cash since these teens come from wealthy families. It will become clear to most readers that those characters who have a touch more to them will play relevant roles in how and where Paige and Anthony ultimately find happiness once the answer to their question is secured. This is a fast and guiltily fun read that is sure to appeal to readers clamoring for more to satisfy their chick-lit fix. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2006, HarperCollins, 294p., $8.99.. Ages 12 to 18.

About the Author, John Hall

John Hall can still remember the first book he ever read. It was Harry The Dirty Dog. Since that day, he's always loved reading. When he was in fifth grade, he decided he was going to be a writer when he grew up and wrote his first novel, The Mystery of the Leopard's Eyes (unfortunately, it was never published and to this day, still sits in his desk drawer). But years later he did become a published author. John grew up in Brooklyn, with a younger brother and twenty-one cousins (yes, 21!), but now lives in New York City.

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Editorials

KLIATT

VOYA

New York teens and best friends Paige (straight) and Anthony (gay) are children of the famous and super rich. They and their elite friends, who live without rules or resident parents, vie to spend, party, dress, and make sexual conquests beyond what has been achieved before. When gorgeous Max, a newcomer from California, joins the group, Paige and Anthony make a pact to see who can get him first. If Max is gay, Anthony will claim him; if straight, then he is Paige's. Within this thin plot, the novel moves from one social event to the next. Various lightly sketched characters-Rachel and Bianca, competitive twins seeking media fame; Felix, gay rival; Colleen, stunning plus-sized model-appear and disappear as Paige and Anthony try simultaneously to discover Max's sexual preference and possess him. Throughout Max manages to elude their maneuvers until, in a surprise ending, both Paige and Anthony find happiness where they least expect it. Deliberately superficial rather than offensive, the book will appeal to teen readers seeking rapid-fire dialogue and descriptions of perfect bodies, attractive clothing, parties, and sexual encounters. The characters quickly dismiss the issue of parental neglect, which surfaces rarely, with another round of spending or partying. As Bianca says, when considering a reality show, "We're going to have to wear outfits that are mass-produced . . . Can you imagine? How ever will [we] survive?" Teen readers will find no enduring value in this entertainingly trivial novel. VOYA CODES: 1Q 4P J S (Hard to understand how it got published; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, HarperCollins,304p., Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18.
—Laura Woodruff

Children's Literature - Cindy L. Carolan

The privileged, upper class, private school teen world in New York City is one with which few readers will identify (although they may not so secretly wish to switch places). Lavish parties, absentee parents, and never ending credit card shopping sprees are part of every day life. Aside from this, they still experience the same broken hearts as the average person. Paige and Anthony have been best friends since seventh grade. Anthony has just been dumped by his first true love and Paige has yet to find one of her own. Now, in their senior year of high school, they are both looking for boyfriends, and, as it turns out, they each have their eyes on the same guy! Problem is, neither can determine if the gloriously hunky Max is gay or straight! The ensuing shenanigans to accomplish such a task are fairly predictable, but entertaining. While the glittery lifestyles are out of the scope of comprehension for many readers, real life dilemmas that are faced by most teens are commendably supported by the fact that the characters have chosen to forgo smoking, drinking, and drugging, as well as "going all the way." This would make a great beach book to be passed around from girlfriend to girlfriend. The author lives in New York City, edits books in his day job, and writes numerous young adult novels in the evenings. Recommended.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Best friends Paige and Anthony are seniors at a New York City high school, and they're both looking for boyfriends. Anthony is still trying to get over being dumped by Ian, and Paige can't seem to attract a nice guy. Into their lives walks Max, who is friendly to everyone and extremely attractive. Anthony and Paige are both interested in him but they can't tell if he's gay or straight-Anthony's "gaydar" seems to be off, giving rise to the book's title, so they come up with a series of contrived ways to find out if Max likes guys or girls. Other than the main characters' occasional internal struggles to stay true to themselves, most of this fluffy romance centers around how others are never quite what they seem. By the time Paige and Anthony learn Max's sexual orientation, they have discovered that their interest was just an infatuation and that it no longer matters. Paige discovers she enjoys the company of Anthony's brother, and Anthony discovers that his coffee-shop server is both gay and interested. Fun summer romance reading and that's about it.-Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.