Category: Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316985600
Type: Fiction
Pages: 211
Copyright: April 5, 2006
ISBN-13: 9780316985598
Price: $5.99 (eBook)
Erin Swift learns to navigate the often treacherous waters of seventh grade, writing in a personal blog to help sort out her feelings about herself and those around her.
Seventh-grader Erin Swift has a talent for computers, a love of Snickers, and big feet that are great for soccer and useless for dancing. She has a lot on her mind: a new school where she's separated from her best friend, a crush on a boy; helping lead the school Intranet project; and a role in the school play. Then real disaster strikes, and Erin sets off on a surprising journey to self-discovery--and the many meanings of cherry-flavored Tootsie Pops.
Excerpt
After we'd bought the PacSun outfit, Jilly grabbed my arm and squeezed. "You're going to look so cute in that."
I had to admit I liked what I'd seen in the dressing-room mirror. My hips were still nonexistent, but the jeans weren't too low and they made it seem like there was a little curve there. Last time July had me try on some that, if I bent too far over, made my butt crack show. I'd prefer not to share my crack with the rest of the world, thank you very much.
"If you wore bikini underwear, that wouldn't be a problem," she had told me.
"Bikini underwear feels like it's going to fall off," I said. And a thong was like purposely giving yourself a wedgie all day long. Why would you do that? I couldn't believe some girls wore them. Personally, I liked my underwear to have some substance. Especially because I played sports and didn't want to worry about butt cracks or wedgies during a layup.
"I'll be over to pick out your clothes on Sunday," Jilly said as we left the store.
I gave her the thumbs-up. She came over every Sunday, picked my outfits for the week, and made a list for me. It was great because I always looked good, even though sometimes I felt like an idiot for not being able to do it myself.
As we headed down the mall, Jilly stopped. "Oh, my God! Duh." She turned to me. "You'll switch tracks. I can't believe I didn't think of it before." She snapped her fingers the way she always does when she gets an idea. "Have your mom call the school in the morning and get you on C Track."
"Okay," I said. I kind of wanted to be on A Track because it was closer to the computer lab, a point I'd noticed when we visited the school last year. But that was okay.
"Good," Jilly said. She sighed as we headed to the main entrance where we were meeting her mother. "I can't imagine going through seventh grade without you."
I smiled. "Me neither."
* * *
ETM (Evil Torture Mom) refused to call the school. "They don't allow switching unless there are special circumstances," she said. "The policy hasn't changed since Chris went there."
"This is special," I protested. "It's beyond special. It's catastrophic."
"It's all about balance," Mom said. "They carefully select the students for each track based on several factors."
"One switch is not going to change the balance, Mom." My insides sank all the way down to my heels, settling in somewhere around my calluses.
My mom shook her head, and I called in a report to Jilly.
"What if you find someone who would switch to A?" she said. Brilliant.
I headed for the desk in the kitchen, opening the drawer where we kept the school directory. I knew which kids from Jordan Elementary were going to MBMS. I explained the plan to my mom, who was chopping potatoes at the counter.
"Erin." Mom stopped chopping and looked at me. I didn't meet her eyes.
"After I find someone, you can call the school." Confidence surged through me with this new plan. "I don't know if I can promise I'll find a girl with big feet who likes basketball and computers, but I'll try."
I could feel Mom smile and knew her eyes were full of compassion. "Erin."
"Would you stop saying my name?" I held my finger in mid-dial and looked at her. "Even if I find someone, you're not going to call for a switch, are you?"
My mom sighed. "Even if I thought they'd go for it, I don't think I would. This is an opportunity for you to spread your wings, Erin."
I gripped the phone. "I don't have any wings, Mom."
"You don't have any other friends, either," Chris said. He had shuffled in just then, treading his usual path to the refrigerator.
"Shut up." I dropped the phone back in its cradle.
"Honey," my mom said, coming to stand beside me.
"You're so mean!" I said. "You could call right now and keep Jilly and me together, but you won't do it. I hate you!" I ran out of the room and up the stairs. Slamming the door behind me, I flung myself on the bed, burying my face in my arms.
A few minutes later there was a knock at my door.
"Erin?" Mom spoke softly, as if I might be sleeping. "Erin, can I come in?"
"No!" I shouted, even though I realized in that instant that I did want her to. I waited. If she asked again, I'd say yes.
After what seemed like hours but was probably just a few seconds, Mom spoke. "If you want to talk, I'll be in my office."
I snorted. I wasn't going to go to her. Besides, what was there to talk about? She had deliberately decided to ruin my life and there was nothing I could do about it.
"We'll figure something out," Jilly said when she called that night to find out what had happened. "We're best friends. They can't keep us apart."
"Right," I said. But inside I had a feeling they could.
Professional Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
Erin navigates the trials of 7th grade’s social mortifications. Day one: with her best friend tragically placed in a different track, Erin’s called a “puppet” by nemesis-since-kindergarten Serena—and promptly socks Serena in the face. The principal, who collects puppets, can’t relate. After the PI (puppet incident), Erin crushes on a boy who considers her only a friend (though the janitor insists that friends last longer than boyfriends as long as you don’t bite them—just like Tootsie Pops). She’s great at Web site design and sports but is pressured into drama. Furthermore, her feet are too big. Events climax when Erin’s private blog is mistakenly posted on the school’s Intranet in an acknowledged nod to Harriet the Spy. Learning to speak up for herself (not be puppet-like) and handle acute embarrassment with aplomb (even while everyone hates her) are Erin’s challenges. AOL-speak is too occasional and therefore jarring, but the blog segments and first-person narration are immediate and funny. Muster your courage for Erin’s cringe-inducing escapades. (Fiction. 8-12)
School Library Journal
Erin Swift, who is beginning middle school, keeps a diary on her own private Web page, which she never intends to post on the Internet. The year gets off to a rough start when she discovers that she and her best friend, Jilly, will not have any classes together. Then Erin punches her archenemy, Serena, for calling her Jilly's puppet. Worst of all, Erin begins to wonder if she does follow Jilly's wishes instead of her own and resolves to make some new friends and pursue her own interests. Things become more difficult when the boy Erin secretly likes becomes infatuated with Jilly. The only bright spot is the Intranet Club, where her computer skills earn her a lead role in designing the school's new Web site. Then disaster strikes when Erin's secret Web page is accidentally posted on the school Intranet for everyone to read. Suddenly, she is faced with her biggest problem yet. The characters and situations are believable, and readers will relate to and sympathize with Erin's dilemmas. Entries from the diary supplement the first-person narrative, an approach that works well with the story. The Erin at the end of the semester is hardly recognizable from the earlier Erin, and the result is pleasing to everyone.
