FML

Gr 9 Up—Tonight is the night. Cassie dumped her boyfriend, is single, and is throwing a huge party. Simon's plan is simple. Find Cassie, confess his love, make her fall in love with him, and kiss her. Simon's friends, Coop and Ben, try to talk him out of it. The 17-year-old has been obsessed with Cassie for years and everyone knows it. He can't help it though. Every girl pales in comparison. The story alternates between two possible scenarios. In the first, "Living the Dream," Simon heads directly to Cassie's party with Coop and Ben and attempts to put his plan into action. In the second, "Reality Bites," he decides to ride with Natalie, a girl who seems interested in him. He hopes this will be the beginning of getting over Cassie, but the idea backfires. Both story lines lead to the party and, ultimately, Simon's mission. He is focused on kissing Cassie and all but ignores warning signs from her and others as the night becomes crazier and crazier in both scenarios. Simon's friends have their own issues, which makes the novel even more interesting. The plot is entertaining enough to keep the pages turning.—Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL