I've Got This On Lockdown

Published:  May 1st, 2012
In the Bag
By: Kate Klise
William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN-13:  9780062108050

A European vacation. A luggage mix-up. A note from a secret admirer.

Meet two single parents who think they're too busy to date. 
And two teenagers who can't stop writing flirty emails. 
This is a tale of connections--missed and made--in a universe that seems to have its heart set on reuniting Ms. 6B and Mr. 13C.

Webb
I can't believe I picked up the wrong bag at the airport. My dad is never going to let me hear the end of it.

Coco
I don't understand why Mom told me to pack my worst underwear. And now I've lost my bag? Ack

Andrew
I cannot stop thinking about that woman in seat 6B on the flight to Paris.

Daisy
I don't have time to worry about the creep sitting in 13C who slipped a note in my purse. I have to find my daughter's missing bag before this ruins our vacation.

Review

     Daisy Sprinkle is going on a vacation to France with her daughter Coco, hoping that it will bring them closer together.  What happens instead is that she gets a weird not from a man on the plane, hitting on her and Coco picks up the wrong bag.  Also involved is single Dad, Andrew, whose son Webb is a mystery to him.  When they get to Madrid and figure out that Webb has the wrong luggage as well, eventually Coco and Webb get into contact.  As they begin scheming of ways to meet up with each other without telling the parents, an unsuspecting Daisy travels to Madrid to do a favor for a friend, working on the gallery opening Andrew is there for.  Sparks begin to fly, but when Daisy realizes that he is the man who left the unwelcome note in her bag all bets are off.  Especially when they catch Coco and Webb together, as they've been detained at the airport and mistaken for terrorists.  Can any of the four of them get past the disastrous events of the vacation and let their romantic feelings take control?  It was like reading a slightly old-style romantic comedy movie, in book format.  I liked the portrayal of Daisy's relationship with Coco.  I think a lot of Mothers and Daughters have trouble connecting, definitely when the daughter is in the teen years.  I know that I did with my Mom.  Webb and Andrew were interesting to read about, making me like them with their awkward romantic overtures.  My major complaint was how fast Coco went from wanting to kiss Webb, to believing that all he wanted was sex!  Really?  What a stereotype.  Not  to mention that as someone who was once a teen girl, we don't automatically assume that every guy wants sex from us, every moment of our interactions.  And she is very casual about whether or not she'll give him what he 'wants.'  I liked the screwball antics and found it to be an overall sweet and easy read.  Probably a good beach or airplane book, for readers looking for something light.  Most likely won't re-read it, but I'm not sorry about reading it a first time either.

VERDICT:  3/5  Stars

* *No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.*

The Year of Secret Assignments (Ashbury/Brookfield # 2)

Published:  April 1st, 2005

The Year of Secret Assignments (Ashbury/Brookfield # 2)

By: Jaclyn Moriarty

Scholastic

ISBN-13:  9780439498821

(Originally published November 30th, 2003 as Finding Cassie Crazy in Australia)

Told entirely through letters, diary entries, emails, and other writing, Moriarty's novel introduces us to Emily, Lydia, and Cassie -- all students at Ashbury High -- who begin writing to their Brookfield High counterparts through the schools' organized pen pal project. Readers learn quickly that each girl has her own writing style and that at two of the Brookfield boys (Seb and Charlie) seem to be smitten with Lydia and Emily. The only trouble is Cassie's pen pal, Matthew, a shady character who first sends her short, threatening letters and then becomes strangely sweet toward her. Nobody can figure out why Cassie keeps writing to him, but after she has a crushing meet-up with Matthew, Cassie discovers -- with the help of her friends and the Brookfield guys -- that he hasn't been honest about his identity. All could be ended there, but when Charlie helps take revenge and Brookfield High gets mysteriously vandalized, the group comes together to deliver justice and save the endangered pen pal project.

Review

     Cassie, Emily and Lydia are best friends who go to Ashbury High.  Their somewhat crazy English teacher Mr. Botherit has decided to start a pen pal program with their rival school, Brookfield, and the girls are forced to take part in it.  Told entirely in letters, e-mails, diary entries and other scribblings, this book follows the girls through the year charting their relationships with the boys from Brookfield.  Lydia and Emily both begin to form friendships or more with their pen pals, Seb and Charlie.  On the other hand, Cassie's pen pal "Matthew" starts off threatening and then leads he on, lying about who he is and what he wants from her.  But when Brookfield begins getting vandalized, the pen pal project might be destroyed for good.  It's up to the guys and girls to pool together and find out who's responsible for the trouble and fix things for good.  I read this book earlier in the year and I really enjoyed it.  Cassie, Lydia, Emily, Seb and Charlie all have distinctive voices and they develop as characters over the course of the book so much.  I also liked "Matthew" even though he wasn't the best person in the world.  The guest appearances by Bindy McKenzie were absolutely hilarious, she is such an interesting character.  I loved how different all the girls are from each other and how their friendship is strong because of it, not in spite of it.  The whole secret assignments thing made me laugh so hard and it was absolutely adorable! :)  I liked the Matthew Dunlop situation, if only because it brought this book to a whole other level.  My only real complaint is that Cassie was kind of stiffed on a love interest.  This was one of the better books I read this year and the epistolary form is a charming thing in this one.

VERDICT:  3.90/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.*