The Crazy Things Girls Do for Love

Gr 7–10—When "movie star gorgeous" Cody Lighfoot comes to Clifton Springs High School, the entire female student body goes gaga, including underachiever, Waneeda; popularity princess, Sicilee; and longtime rival, uber hip Maya. When Cody's only interest seems to be the high school's environmental club, Sicilee and Maya join and try to "out green" one another in order to snag Cody. Along the way, the three girls discover several things about themselves and the seemingly perfect Cody that changes everything. Kate Rudd keeps Dyan Sheldon's lighthearted, predictable story (Candlewick, 2011) moving along with her verbal portraits of the girls. She gives each one a distinct voice that is spot-on: Sicilee is a high pitched Valley girl, Maya has a more subdued tone with touches of hippy, and the lower register throaty pitch tinged with indifference is perfect for Waneeda. Rudd handles male voices with skill as well, including Cody, whose voice reflects his confidence mixed with just the right amount of persuasive charm. Upbeat music throughout is the perfect background for the story. A fun, fast-moving listen.—Shari Fesko, Southfield Public Library, MI