Monday, June 9, 2014

The Queen Of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker - ADVISABLE

Whitaker, Alecia The Queen Of Kentucky, 375 p. Little, Brown And Company, 2012. $18. Language: PG-13 (35+ swears, 0 ‘f’); Violence: PG (results of child abuse); Mature Content: PG-13 (girl body talk, drunk teens).  

Rickie Jo wants away from her life as a small time farmer girl.  As she goes from the local private school to the public high school, she is determined to reinvent herself as Erika, or maybe Ericka.  New clothes and makeup tips help, but it also means leaving behind her old friends - including Luke, the boy next door who has always been there for her as her playmate, her work partner, her rock.  As Ericka deals with girl cliques, shallow boys, and other vagaries of high school, Luke tries to understand.  Both teens have major life problems heading their way - they probably will need each other in order to keep their hearts intact.  

Whitaker made me feel like I was back in high school again.  She gets it right without going overboard.  I hope the country look of the cover won’t turn off more urban teens, because this is a great new voice.  

MS - OPTIONAL.  HS - ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

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