Me & My Invisible Guy

Gr 7 Up—Mallory Dane is a popular cheerleader with the perfect boyfriend, except for one minor detail: Todd isn't real. Mallory manufactured her entire relationship using Photoshop and white lies to convince everybody at her high school that she's involved in a serious relationship and to cover up the fact that she is a virgin. Tired of the ruse, Mallory decides to come clean and make amends for lying, never realizing it would cost her friends, her cheerleading position, and her reputation. Complicating matters even more is cute new guy Liam, Mallory's family's struggle to cope with her older sister's secret, and her best friend's troubles with her alcoholic mother. Through it all, Mallory relies on her burgeoning faith to help her successfully navigate life's difficulties. Sara Jeffrey's story (Skyscape, 2013) doesn't linger on the fake boyfriend, but instead focuses on the post "break-up" drama. Narrator Amy McFadden's portrayal of Mallory captures all the highs and lows the teen faces in the aftermath of her decision to stop lying. Her self-doubt and frustration is believably voiced, and her excitement and elation will have many teen girls relating to the joys of a new romance. While listeners will enjoy the audio's brisk pace, they may have trouble reconciling several absurd plot points, including Mallory's status as a social pariah because of her chastity, followed by her subsequent elevation to national poster child for her abstinence. An additional purchase for libraries where teen romance and faith-based books are popular.—Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH