Pretty Things

Publishers Weekly

Brie loves her gay best friend, Charlie, who's crushing on straight Walker, who's fallen for lesbian Daisy in Manning's (Guitar Girl) uneven novel about four British teens in a summer drama workshop. They're performing The Taming of the Shrew, and while the protagonists do not discuss the workshop or explore their own characters much, the play provides a loose parallel to their lives (pretty Brie is unable to stand up for herself, while outspoken Daisy is continuously fighting for equality). The teens, who each have a distinct voice, take turns narrating, describing their own personal crises: Charlie does not feel that being gay is the extent of his identity ("I only fancy straight boys, which is kinda limiting," he confesses), while Daisy is disappointed by her girlfriend's cold reaction when she makes a surprise visit to her at peace camp. Unfortunately, none of the protagonists is that easy to sympathize with: Brie is shallow, Walker keeps harassing Daisy, and even Charlie treats Brie badly. The book raises compelling questions about identity (after Daisy hooks up with Walker, she realizes "Maybe I should stop defining myself through the people I slept with and start trying to work out who the hell I actually am" and readers will applaud Brie's growing self-esteem, highlighted by her brilliant performance in the role of Kate), but despite the rotating perspectives, readers don't really get to know these characters. Ages 14-up. (June) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

KLIATT

Mix Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew with four troubled teenagers looking for summer fun, two of whom are gay and two straight, and each suffering a crisis of sexual identity. Brie is a self-absorbed, apparently shallow girl obsessed with looks and fashion. Her best friend is Charlie, a boy who announces on homemade t-shirts that he is "gayer." Brie and Charlie are such good friends that they have sleepovers cuddled in each other's arms, and Brie fruitlessly wishes that Charlie would get over being gay. They have joined an acting group along with acquaintances Walker, a self-professed champion "shagger," and Daisy, a loud political lesbian whose lover is away for the summer. Problems arise when tiny-voiced Brie is cast as Kate, and "take no prisoners" Daisy is cast as Bianca. Walker is Petrucchio. Further problems arise when Charlie falls for Walker, Walker falls for Daisy, and Daisy looks at Brie with a speculative eye. Sexual confusion soon reigns. Told in the alternating voices of the four main characters, this novel is a modern version of slapstick romantic comedy, not unlike Kiss Me, Kate. Manning competently controls the four voices. Although the characters take themselves seriously, the effect is hilarious. Furthermore, the plot does not end as neatly as Shakespeare's comedies. The four end as friends but are still confused. This is a funny read, but those looking for tidy solutions and clear moral values will need to keep looking. KLIATT Codes: S*—Exceptional book, recommended for senior high school students. 2005, Penguin, Dutton, 262p., Ages 15 to 18.
—Myrna Marler

Children's Literature

Charlie—a gay teenage guy—is sleeping with Brie—a straight teenage girl—who is secretly deluding herself that Charlie is just going through a phase and will wake up one morning to discover he is madly in love with her. Charlie, on the other hand, has a huge crush on Walker, a straight guy who is known as the biggest "shagger" in London and will sleep with any and all girls who are willing. Walker, meanwhile, is falling in love with Daisy, a big-breasted lesbian with a huge chip on her shoulder. This book would be great for a study of the relative merits of plot versus character-driven stories. The characters are certainly colorful, but as far as plot goes—there is none. With chapters alternating among the various characters' points of view, this is a set of characters in search of a story. It pretends to be about finding one's sexual identity, but instead is simply about finding sex. Apparently the author thought that if she filled the book with enough sex, drugs, drunkenness, and four-letter words, teens would flock to it. My teen was bored with it after only a couple of chapters. 2005, Dutton Books, Ages 16 up.
—Pat Trattles

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Four deftly drawn teens from North London share the spotlight in this romantic rectangle. Brie regularly invites Charlie, her gay best friend, to sleep over in her bed. Charlie falls head over heels for Walker, a straight teen who is involved with them in a summer drama group that will be performing The Taming of the Shrew. Although Walker leads Charlie on, his heart really belongs to Daisy, a well-endowed lesbian who is also in the play. Gender identity issues intensify as Daisy discovers she is attracted to and enjoys sex with Walker as much as with her girlfriend, Claire. Charlie decides that even though he is really, truly gay, he still loves Brie enough as his best friend to want to have sex with her, though she does not reciprocate. Daisy finds Brie pitiful and annoying, but she forces an intense kiss on her just to show her what it's like to be kissed by another girl. Brie knows wholeheartedly that she is straight, but the boy she likes is sexually demanding and she thwarts his ultimate attempt to rape her. Despite all the confusion, complications, and miscommunications, by story's end everything seems squared away and the teens are a little surer of their relationships. The constant bombardment of gay versus bisexual versus straight issues and attitudes, and the frequent and excessive drinking, wears thin and becomes almost overwhelming. However, the four distinct voices that come alive and echo a strong story of love, disillusion, and resolution are the novel's saving grace. As she did in Guitar Girl (Dutton, 2004), Manning skillfully depicts scenes of romance and conflict.-Diane P. Tuccillo, City of Mesa Library, AZ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.