From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–Kim lives in Brighton, England, with her father and younger brother, Matt; her mother has left them for a younger man and lives in the Caribbean. Kim's voice is authentic teenage, dealing with uncertainty and issues, and with her attraction to superachiever Zoe. Money runs out and Kim must go to a rough-and-tumble local school, leaving Zoe behind. There she meets Maria Sweet, a wild, impulsive Top Girl who tests all limits. Kim and Maria link, indulge themselves in liquor and drugs, and sample with abandon a lesbian relationship. Maria, known as Sugar, betrays Kim and their budding relationship to experiment sexually with men. And Kim somehow picks up the pieces of life and goes on. This is an excellent coming-of-age story that deals with the thoughts and emotions of a girl coming to terms with being lesbian, and also with accepting herself for who she is and not being enamored of the strong personalities around her. British teenage slang will slow American readers down a bit, but not for long, for the dialogue is authentic teen banter. This is a solid addition for most YA collections. All young people need good stories of teen relationships that will help them make their way on the rocky road of growing up.–Alice DiNizo, Plainfield Public Schools, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Booklist
Gr. 10-12. When her mother runs off with a 28-year-old tycoon, 15-year-old Kim must transfer from exclusive Preston High to Ravendene, a school she describes as "the source and inspiration for five thousand urban myths and horror stories." But to Kim's surprise, she immediately is accepted by Maria Sweet, aka Sugar, and becomes a Raver, a member of the clique of popular and feared bad girls. It's a heady experience until she realizes she feels more than friendship for Sugar. By falling in love, Kim opens herself up to Sugar's manipulative ways, which are far too similar to Kim's mother's. In her first novel for young adults, British journalist Burchill writes in clipped, swift-moving language peppered with easily understood British slang and a few mildly coarse phrases. Older teens will be easily absorbed by this intriguing, suggestive (but not graphic) portrait of young women and their struggles with sexual identity, public opinion about homosexuality, and the real meaning of parenthood, family, and authentic love. Frances Bradburn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
