My Life Undecided

Gr 7—10—At 15, Brooklyn is decision challenged. Since she became famous for being trapped in an abandoned mine shaft at three years old, she's been known for her mistakes. As the sidekick of her school's most perfectly dazzling girl, Shayne, she doesn't have to make many of her own decisions—until one disastrous evening of partying burns down a house. Shayne turns her back on Brooklyn, and, feeling lost, Brooklyn starts a blog in which she polls her readers about what she should do, thus avoiding her own poor judgment. As she struggles to follow the results of the polls, she tries new activities and meets new people, including two handsome boys. In the process, she discovers that mistakes happen and that "perfection is only a word that makes you feel bad about yourself." Brooklyn is a sympathetic protagonist with whom teens will identify. Her journey is fun to read, and decision-challenged readers will learn an important lesson about self-acceptance along the way.—Mindy Whipple, West Jordan Library, UT