The True Meaning of Cleavage

Rating:
Summary: Great "Coming of Age" story from the female point of view!
Review: As a Young Adult Librarian, I was pleased to see "The True Meaning of Cleavage" get a great review from Meg Cabot (another YA author that teens and their parents should know about). Mariah Fredericks weaves a very believable and compelling storyline centered on a lifelong friendship between Sari and Jess. Beginning their freshman year of high school, Sari and Jess keep the close bonds that have been the hallmark of their friendship -- hanging out, renting movies, and consulting "The Book" for advice on dating and other important life issues. Sari's quest to join the "in crowd," however, leads to some questionable decisions, especially as they relate to becoming involved with a senior who is currently one half of the school's "official couple." As the consequences of Sari's decision become more severe, her relationship with Jess is strained. The big question is, can it be mended?

Fredericks' strength in "The True Meaning of Cleavage" is her ability to write from both girls' points of view. Sari's desire to be known in high school is clear throughout the story, and Jess's struggles with being known only as "Sari's friend" lay an important foundation for the entire book. As Sari's reputation is damaged (partly out of Jess's jealousy and insecurity) the ups and downs of a very realistic friendship come to the front. Parents are mentioned at important times, but do not dominate the book, and are presented as interested in their daughters' lives, but not overbearing. The book does deal candidly (but not graphically) with sexuality, which may limit its appeal to some audiences. That said, however, "The True Meaning of Cleavage" makes a GREAT book discussion title, and is a book that parents of teenage girls will want to know about (and, hopefully, read!)

Rating:
Summary: Poor story-line
Review: Did I miss something while reading this book? Nothing happens!! It's about two girls, one of them falls in love with a guy only he doesn't really love her back. And the other girl ends up with a boyfriend. That's it. Oh, and time goes by. Very "fly on the wall"-ish, a bit disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Lackluster
Review: I bought this book expecting, from the front flap and other reviews that I'd heard, to read a spectacular heart moving, coming-of-age tale. I was flatly turned down. This book is far too cliched and uninteresting to read. At first glance, Jess is the perfect heroine, but as we get further into the book, to me, she seemed weak, not a very good character at all. Sari is unendingly obnoxious, a trait that Fredericks portrays very well, but her redemption is hurried and unbelievable. I did not appreciate this book. The plot had potential, but the writing style and characters were lackluster. If you want to read truly brilliant books of the same genre, I suggest "Sloppy Firsts" and "Second Helpings" as well as the well-known "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants".

Rating:
Summary: Great characters. Incredibly realistic. I loved the story!
Review: I didn't know what to expect from this book at first, because I didn't know what the title referred to. I mean, I thought it referred only to sex, but then I read the book and discovered that the title is about how people become separated from one another, especially girls. High school is such a difficult time in a girl's life, and this book told how two girls deal with it in a really fabulous way, one I could really relate to. I loved the characters. They were so unique and, yet, so much like people I know must really exist. The book also had a lot to say about sex, without really ever talking about sex directly. It was GREAT the way the book gave the message that girls should focus on being true to themselves and that having sex just to be popular or to 'get' a boyfriend will only make a girl feel bad about herself in the long run. I read this book all the way through after school one day. Couldn't tear myself away from it!

Rating:
Summary: The True Meaning of Cleavage
Review: I thought that this was a very good book that appeals to the teenager in everyone. It is a story about Jess and Sari, best friends since 7th grade. They're entering their freshman year of high school, and they're growing apart a little bit at a time. Jess doesn't fit in the greatest, and I think that all of us can relate to that at one time or another. Sari is beautiful and gets lots of attention, especially from guys. She falls "madly, psychotically in love" with a cool senior, David Cole, who has been going out with Thea Melendez forever. Many of us can relate to Jess's struggle as she loses Sari little by little. Eventually, though, Sari decided that David needed to choose who he wanted more: Sari or Thea. Sari and Jess go back to being as tight as they were in the beginning of the story because Sari also realized that friends, especially best friends, are more important than guys. Boyfriends come and go, but best friends are priceless and of utmost importance.

Rating:
Summary: I bought this book for every teen/tweener girl in my family!
Review: I'm a mom and aunt, who ran across this book by accident, (while surfing the web). I was surprised and thrilled to find that this kind of fiction is being written for girls. The characters are unique, interesting, and powerful role models. Their story was well-drawn and was funny, sad, and educating to me.

Jess, the main voice, is a real find. Her interest in art and science fiction, and her alienation from the "popular" crowd, including boys, makes her complex and fascinating. I would very much like to meet her, if she were a real person. Unfortunately, Jess's friend Sari fares a little worse. Although she is a wonderfully and believably drawn character, she is the kind of teenaged girl that every mother hopes NOT to raise: one who uses sex to gain attention and popularity.

Being a bit on the conservative side, I was relieved, however, to find that the author handles sexual issues delicately; in fact, I never saw the word "sex" anywhere in the book, and sex itself is never described or talked about as such.(You have to read between the lines.) However, the implications are enough, and the message is clear: sex in high school can make a girl miserable.

Interestingly, despite the cover art and title, this book has the most wholesome values of any book I've read lately, including adult fiction. The story's message seems to be that girls should empower themselves, find themselves, and be people first, before they tackle sex. And THAT is why I bought five copies of this book and sent it out to all my nieces and let my 10-year-old daughter read it. (She loved it! ... Nieces' books just went out in mail.)

I definitely will be following this author in the future. She clearly has her head on straight and has a knack for creating compelling, believable characters and stories. (Plus, I want my daughter and nieces to hear what she has to say!) Also, I don't think tweeners and teenagers will settle for anything less than honesty. They can spot a phony a mile away. This author, however, was the real thing. (I think I was drawn to her, initially, because of the recommendation on the book jacket by Meg Cabot, who wrote "The Princess Diaries.")

P.S. Sorry for the wordiness. Can't help myself. I'm a voracious reader and books are a sort of religion for me!

Rating:
Summary: The dawn of a great career
Review: Mariah Fredericks' first novel is a grand slam. The book is blessed with polished prose, three-dimensional characters, and dialogue that is dead-on. She wrote it for a young adult audience, but adult adults will really appreciate Frederick's gift for storytelling (especially these days when plotless novels are the norm). Keep an eye on Mariah Fredericks--she is a major new talent.

Rating:
Summary: Meg Cabot and I LOVE this book!
Review: Meg Cabot says on the back of this book that it's "Laugh out loud funny and way twisted!"

She's right! I bought the book because my niece saw that Meg Cabot liked it. I read it first because the picture on the front looks kind of racy. But there's nothing to worry about in that sense. The book is about friendship between girls, and competition--and growing up. It's funny and sweet and real, and both my niece and I (and Meg!) loved it.

Rating:
Summary: Better books out there on this topic
Review: Poor marketing on the publisher's part. The cover attempts to make the book appear provacative; just eye candy. The author tries to weave a tale about two girls who are trying to figure out who they are in relation to boys. Although liberal in my approach to life, I feel this story is a wimpy attempt to explore a teen girl's curiosity about love in the real world. While reading "between the lines" you discover there are some decent points made about the fact that experimenting with sex will not make you happy as a young teenager. But, at the very best, it's just a so so story as far as quality literature. Feeble attempt at pop fiction also. It's clear that the young adult market is seeking titles from writers that raise sexual curiosity. Any writer then who covers the topic will get a book made, as this author did. But my point is this: while sex is fun and interesting, there are far many better quality books that superbly explore the psychological depths of a girl's mind and soul. Most people believe that an exploration of the spirit of a teenager and her fears about her future make for better quality reading. The writer obviously lacks depth in her (or his if it's a pen name) own life. Our teens need writers who truly know the human condition at a level that goes deeper than pop culture sexuality. But if you're just looking for a summer beach read, then go for it. I think you'll find that the publisher's idea for a cover (and title for that matter) doesn't belong with the book. Oh well; what can you say? It's just popular fiction, right?

Rating:
Summary: Uninspired and Annoying
Review: The True Meaning of Cleavage (a title the book never really answers, or even tries to get into - a big disappointment, because I thought it showed promise) starts with 2 best friends, Sari and Jess, wondering how they'll survive high school. It proceeds into their freshman year, where Sari falls in love with a popular senior who already has a girlfriend, and has an affair with him. This leads to angsty complications where Jess feels jealous, angry and hurt because Sari is always depressed or ignoring her.

I don't like Mariah Fredericks' writing style (although I think having imaginary quotes from Jess' favourite book that tied in with the chapter's content were an interesting idea) and I found all of the characters in this book to be annoying and stupid. Sari's actions defy all logic and intelligence, and Jess stands at the sidelines watching and moping around constantly. And a supporting cast of ... high schoolers surround them - from ditzy Erica Trager to geeky Danny.

During this book, I constantly wanted to grab the characters and knock some sense into them.

Despite its simplicity, boring style of writing, a character trying to be like feisty heroines from other (better) YA books like The Princess Diaries (whose author Meg Cabot gave a glowing recommendation of this book on the back, I have no idea what she was paid for it, but it must have been a lot) and dissing everything in her school, I actually wanted to find out what happened in this book. The ending was pretty good compared to the rest of the book, but I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Basic summary? A pair of melodramatic, stupid girls who need a slap upside the head star in a book sadly lacking in plot, originality or much of anything.