Comments on: A Match Made in High School http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html Tue, 11 May 2010 02:34:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: www.bookshipper.blogspot.com/ http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-27 www.bookshipper.blogspot.com/ Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:31:38 +0000 http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-27 I had to admit that when I first started reading A Match Made in High School I was thinking "oh no, not another one of these" but after about page 10, I immediately realized that this book was going to have an interesting storyline - loaded with twists that I did not actually see coming - THIS IS THE BEST TYPE OF STORYLINE. Because I read so much, I have become quite adept at figuring out plots before they actually happen, but I was in for quite a few surprises with this book. <br /> <br />First off, I loved all of the characters - of course, we needed the "requisite" mean girl in Amanda, but I do have to say that even this character was extremely well written and fleshed out. The main character Fiona was fun and usually smart and interesting, although I found myself shouting at her a few times - especially when she was so "over the top" talking non stop about herself and all her horrible problems. Still, she was written perfectly to reflect a YA. The big surprise for me was Todd - who comes off really as the biggest jerk - but ends up being a lot more complex than I would have expected. I think he was the most interesting of all the characters - and I am thrilled with the ending - as it was totally not predictable (enough said about that without giving away the spoilers). <br /> <br />Fiona's best friend Marcie was okay for the most part, but I found her to be a bit of a backstabber and I was really not crazy about some of the stunts she pulled - especially about being dishonest with Fiona, all the while preaching to Fiona about what a "real" friend is supposed to be like. <br /> <br />The writing is witty and fun and this book never lags - I loved it and was sorry it ended. Rating: 4 / 5 I had to admit that when I first started reading A Match Made in High School I was thinking “oh no, not another one of these” but after about page 10, I immediately realized that this book was going to have an interesting storyline – loaded with twists that I did not actually see coming – THIS IS THE BEST TYPE OF STORYLINE. Because I read so much, I have become quite adept at figuring out plots before they actually happen, but I was in for quite a few surprises with this book.

First off, I loved all of the characters – of course, we needed the “requisite” mean girl in Amanda, but I do have to say that even this character was extremely well written and fleshed out. The main character Fiona was fun and usually smart and interesting, although I found myself shouting at her a few times – especially when she was so “over the top” talking non stop about herself and all her horrible problems. Still, she was written perfectly to reflect a YA. The big surprise for me was Todd – who comes off really as the biggest jerk – but ends up being a lot more complex than I would have expected. I think he was the most interesting of all the characters – and I am thrilled with the ending – as it was totally not predictable (enough said about that without giving away the spoilers).

Fiona’s best friend Marcie was okay for the most part, but I found her to be a bit of a backstabber and I was really not crazy about some of the stunts she pulled – especially about being dishonest with Fiona, all the while preaching to Fiona about what a “real” friend is supposed to be like.

The writing is witty and fun and this book never lags – I loved it and was sorry it ended.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: Kay http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-26 Kay Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:58:10 +0000 http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-26 Fiona "Fee" Sheehan is finally a senior in high school. She and her best friend, Marcie, head into their first day assembly and straight into a nightmare. The principal informs the senior class that they have a new mandatory course this year. They must complete it or they will not graduate. It is called "Trying the Knot", a curriculum of marriage education. Each female senior student will be paired up with a male senior student and they will be "married" for the entire school year. Naturally, the pairings are hideous. Fiona ends up with Todd Harding, super jock, and serious boyfriend of her nemesis, head cheerleader Amanda Lowell. Amanda is paired with Fee's longtime crush, Gabe Webber. Marcie has to spend her year with the very goofy, very BIG Johnny Mercer. There are all sorts of requirements, rules, counseling sessions, budgets, work schedules, and journals to be completed. Fiona and Todd, horrified that they are a "couple", spend the first few weeks fighting, pranking each other, and generally making each other miserable. However, both of them and indeed all the seniors involved find that, in the end, they may have a lot more in common than they realize. <br /> <br />I liked the characters in this story. Fiona is not a popular girl, but she is mostly comfortable in her own skin. She tells it like it is. A little self-absorbed (but what teen isn't), she still learns that some of her assumptions about others are not necessarily correct. The author uses humor in a good way and I laughed out loud many times. Though there is a bit of strong language included and a limited amount of teen drinking, the kids are shown making some really good choices and learning there are consequences for bad choices. I've read other YA books that included kids having to care for fake babies in the form of dolls, eggs, or flour sacks. This is the first that I've read where they had to learn how to get along in a marital relationship. Some good lessons were presented. I would suggest this book for 8th grade and up. Well done, Kristin Walker, and I'll be looking for your next book and recommending it to my teen librarian friends. The cover is great, by the way. <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 Fiona “Fee” Sheehan is finally a senior in high school. She and her best friend, Marcie, head into their first day assembly and straight into a nightmare. The principal informs the senior class that they have a new mandatory course this year. They must complete it or they will not graduate. It is called “Trying the Knot”, a curriculum of marriage education. Each female senior student will be paired up with a male senior student and they will be “married” for the entire school year. Naturally, the pairings are hideous. Fiona ends up with Todd Harding, super jock, and serious boyfriend of her nemesis, head cheerleader Amanda Lowell. Amanda is paired with Fee’s longtime crush, Gabe Webber. Marcie has to spend her year with the very goofy, very BIG Johnny Mercer. There are all sorts of requirements, rules, counseling sessions, budgets, work schedules, and journals to be completed. Fiona and Todd, horrified that they are a “couple”, spend the first few weeks fighting, pranking each other, and generally making each other miserable. However, both of them and indeed all the seniors involved find that, in the end, they may have a lot more in common than they realize.

I liked the characters in this story. Fiona is not a popular girl, but she is mostly comfortable in her own skin. She tells it like it is. A little self-absorbed (but what teen isn’t), she still learns that some of her assumptions about others are not necessarily correct. The author uses humor in a good way and I laughed out loud many times. Though there is a bit of strong language included and a limited amount of teen drinking, the kids are shown making some really good choices and learning there are consequences for bad choices. I’ve read other YA books that included kids having to care for fake babies in the form of dolls, eggs, or flour sacks. This is the first that I’ve read where they had to learn how to get along in a marital relationship. Some good lessons were presented. I would suggest this book for 8th grade and up. Well done, Kristin Walker, and I’ll be looking for your next book and recommending it to my teen librarian friends. The cover is great, by the way.

Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Mandy Hubbard http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-25 Mandy Hubbard Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:13:57 +0000 http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-25 A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL has more quips than a Veronica Mars episode. I have never laughed so hard or so often as I did while reading this! <br /> <br />Pick it up. You won't be disapointed. Rating: 5 / 5 A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL has more quips than a Veronica Mars episode. I have never laughed so hard or so often as I did while reading this!

Pick it up. You won’t be disapointed.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: V. Bogdan http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-24 V. Bogdan Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:37:04 +0000 http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-24 This was a great "fun" read. I can't wait to find out what happens to Fiona for the rest of her senior year. I really couldn't put it down until the end. Great Work!! Rating: 5 / 5 This was a great “fun” read. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Fiona for the rest of her senior year. I really couldn’t put it down until the end. Great Work!!
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Rossana Snee http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-23 Rossana Snee Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:43:38 +0000 http://www.vermontcareers.org/10-a-match-made-in-high-school.html#comment-23 This book was entertaining, funny, & romantic. I can totally see it being made into a movie. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. This is a first novel -- kudos to Ms. Walker! I wish she had more books out; I would definitely rush out and buy some more of her stuff. I hope she's working on her next novel! Rating: 5 / 5 This book was entertaining, funny, & romantic. I can totally see it being made into a movie. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. This is a first novel — kudos to Ms. Walker! I wish she had more books out; I would definitely rush out and buy some more of her stuff. I hope she’s working on her next novel!
Rating: 5 / 5

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