Plot Summary: Cyd Charisse is used to being shipped off. First she was sent to a fancy boarding school back East, where she met he who must not be named. After that didn't take, she finds herself back home with her mom, her stepdad and her two half siblings in San Francisco. Things are going okay, but her idea of fun doesn't mesh with her mom's and after one too many nights breaking curfew to hang out with Shrimp, her boyfriend, she's being shipped back east to stay with her father, who she's met exactly once. Cyd's actually really excited to stay with her cool dad and meet her other half siblings and besides missing Shrimp and Sugar Pie (the greatest friend in a nursing home a girl's ever had) things are looking up! However, once she arrives in NY, she finds that not everything is how she pictured it. Meeting the new family, dealing with the painful past she's tried to keep behind her at boarding school and reconciling all these new parts of her takes a toll and Cyd's not sure if she's coming or going. One way or another she'll figure it out, she's Cyd Charisse after all!
Critical Evaluation: This debut novel from now experienced and successful author Rachel Cohn is a charmer that relies on well written characters, perfect dialogue and a smattering of "problems" and "family issues" to advance the plot. Readers will want a lot more from Cohn, and thankfully, she's writing at a pace to satisfy them. The novel has the pacing and vibe of a light summer read, but manages to mix in enough character growth and revelation to make it feel deeper. Cyd Charisse is a likeable heroine who readers will root for, and want to know more about. A good entry novel for reluctant readers, Cohn has struck debut gold.
Reader's Annotation: Cyd Charisse doesn't need anybody, she's got Ginger Bread her childhood doll. When even her mom can't deal with her latest antics it's off to NY to meet the father she's met once.
About the Author: Born in 1968 in Silver Spring, MD, Rachel Cohn grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. After graduating from Barnard with a degree in Political Science, Cohn thought she wanted to be a journalist and decided that writing was where it was for her.
After a move to San Francisco, Cohn took an administrative position to support her writing ambitions and since the publication of her first novel, Gingerbread, she has been writing full time. She now lives in Brooklyn, and besides publishing her own titles, frequently collaborates with David Levithan on books like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (now a major movie) among others.
Information retrieved from http://www.rachelcohn.com/
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Booktalking Ideas: Blended families - family trees of similar families. Prevelance of abortion/pregnancy these days.
Reading Level:12+
Interest Age: 14+
Challenge Issues: Abortion, Adult themes, Adultery
Challenge Response: I would refer to statistics about awareness of abortions vs. safety of teens, popularity of Teen Mom negates this exposure.
Why is This Included: A well written story about blended families that will appeal to teens.
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