Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although I felt this left a little to be desired as far as development, I liked the premise and the dual narration.  The obsession with youth and the disregard for anything that isn't accepted by the masses provides a lot to think about, especially when careers top out at age 17.  Marla and Ivy give readers two very different views of life in a world where you're only as good as the popularity of your next decision.

I don't think it's accurate to call this a dystopian novel, either.  No, things weren't perfect and kids are blatantly taken advantage of by the world at large, but no one's being threatened with death, there is no one character who can do something no one else can, and there is no crazy vision of world domination.  This can be labeled ageist, at worst. 

However, I did like Marla and Ivy.  Some of their character development seemed rushed in places, but I found them both to be sympathetic.  The other characters were also good, whether they were naughty or nice.  Some of them made me cringe and some made me smile, but all were well drawn.
The writing could use a little more tweaking in places to eliminate unnecessary story lines, such as one of Ivy's nymphs being used to spy on her- which ultimately amounted to nothing and was never mentioned again. 

Material Girls was ultimately a good story.  You might be frustrated with the fashion talk in a few places, but the characters and plot provide many topics of thought and conversation. 

 

Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos: It's not going to start an uprising to end government tyranny, but it is a good story about two girls who begin to question everything they've always accepted as the norm.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.  

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

By the end of Billy and Me, I was underwhelmed. Sophie May's secret wasn't really a secret. The relationship between Sophie and Billy seemed to have not progressed at all from when they first met and barely knew each other. Sophie became a character I didn't even like. (How does one relate to a character who seems to do nothing with her life other than be someone's girlfriend?) And what was supposed to be a happy ending felt saccharine and overly sentimental.

The writing is technically correct- too correct, actually. Everything was so formal it felt almost like reading a recitation of facts rather than being told a story by a friend. The use of ellipses drove me absolutely crazy. There was, at a minimum, one per page. Exclamations points were used in even the most mundane of sentences, making me feel as if I were talking to someone who'd indulged in way to many espressos before telling me this (mostly) dull story of a regular girl's love for a famous man. 

It's unlikely that I'll read this again.  I'll give Fletcher's next book a chance, but I don't hold high hopes. 

Being Hartley by Allison Rushby

Having been dragged around the world for her entire life by her famous mother, Thea Wallis is finally ready for her own taste of stardom.  She doesn't expect it to come at the cost of her cousin's happiness, though, and just when all her wildest dreams are about to come true she has to ask herself if that's what she really wants after all.

I was mildly disappointed in this story.  While there are issues of dissatisfaction with life, possible forays into depression, and plenty of teenage rebellion and first loves, these are only lightly touched upon.  There wasn't enough exploration of the key problems, but there was plenty of whining about why Thea couldn't get what she wanted when she wanted it.

The writing style is authentic as a teenage voice, but there's always a feeling of just skimming the surface of all the emotions that range through the book.  Thea, while realistic, isn't the kind of character that will keep me coming back to her story.

On the flip side, hers is a story for those teens whose parents might not want them absorbing all the details of the darker side of life.  I know, you have an argument all ready that the darker side of life is what makes it real- that we all have emotions, problems, and issues with which to deal from which we cannot hide.  You're right.  I won't argue with that.  But Thea's story is one that could be more of an opening to discuss such things with parents, friends, or teachers rather than just read.