Gr 8 Up—High school senior David Ellison, the popular acting star of Oak Fields Prep in Palo Alto, California, plans to audition for Juilliard instead of his parents' choice, Stanford. He has a goal-minded girlfriend, Ellen, but with the arrival of intriguing newcomer Vanessa, David's costar in the school's production of The Great Gatsby, a complicated romantic triangle develops. When the privileged students of Oak Fields learn that revered Stanford University will admit only one senior, insecurities and competitiveness abound. An anonymous prankster, The Artist, begins posting incriminating photo collages of individuals outside the college counseling office, undermining the highest achievers in the school. Struggling to sort out his romantic entanglement, anxious about his Juilliard audition, and worried that he'll be a target of The Artist, David finds his confidence weakening. In a moment of clarity and self-realization, he breaks out of character during a performance to say that "The only future we can believe in…is the one we create for ourselves." Snappy dialogue, witty and sarcastic observations, a diverse cast of adult and teenage characters, relevant Gatsby themes, and a heap of parental and peer pressure make David's story an entertaining cautionary tale about privileged students with a sense of entitlement. Teens will enjoy the protagonist's candor and humor, and, of course, the satisfying ending.—Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC
David’s dilemma is funny and absorbing. Terrified of ruining the great relationship he has with Ellen, David nevertheless grows closer to Vanessa, and his indecision results in numerous scenes of comical, cringe-inspiring self sabotage. Ellen and Vanessa are more than just love interests; they are distinct characters with personalities that defy stereotypes of the studious girlfriend and the manic pixie dream girl. When Ellen and Vanessa meet on a disastrous excursion organized by David, the fallout is compelling. A senior at an elite prep school, David grows increasingly anxious as his post-graduation plans run up against his parents’ expectations and his decreasing confidence in his acting ability. With skillful pacing, Coert Voorhees raises the stakes—for David, Ellen, Vanessa, and their competitive classmates—creating palpable tension centered on an issue (i.e. college aspirations) that sometimes feels overwrought or stale in YA novels. Though David is self-centered and an increasingly frequent liar, his emotional honesty and mounting desperation make him a believable and sympathetic character. As his love life and life goals fall apart, readers will root for him, hoping he comes to a better understanding of himself and finds a promising direction. They likely will be pleasantly surprised by the novel’s conclusion.
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