Crush Control

Gr 8—10—Willow Grey, 17, is elated when her single mother, who was a popular, sexy "Hip Hypnotist in Vegas," decides to focus her skills in a more conventional way and move the duo back to their small hometown in Georgia. Willow can't wait to see her BFF Max again and to try to reestablish a relationship with her conventional and judgmental grandmother and ill grandfather. While Willow is thrilled that Max is just as wonderful, and even more handsome, than she remembered, she is not so elated when sweet, pretty Minnie steps into his arms and plants a big kiss on his lips. It doesn't take long before Willow realizes that what she feels for Max is much more than friendship, and she considers that maybe a little jealousy will make him look at her differently. At a party, Willow demonstrates the hypnosis techniques that she's watched her mother use, and she decides to make the hottest guy in school treat her like a goddess. Her session with Quinton, though, makes him unbearably needy and clingy. Even worse, her hypnotic suggestions to a classmate result in serious injury. Mom not only saves the situation, but also takes a big step in gaining respect in the eyes of her formerly disapproving parents. While the fluffy plot premise is predictable, readers will empathize with Willow's realistic desire to fit in at a new school and her seemingly unrequited love situation. Like Jabaley's Lipstick Apology (Penguin, 2009), Crush Control demonstrates the axiom that love means accepting and appreciating friends and family as they are.—Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY