The Lo-Down

Gr 9 Up—A love and relationships guide from another Hills girl. Unlike some of her tabloid-tastic cohorts, Bosworth is seemingly the tamest of the group. Known as the confidant to her girlfriends, she's the kind of friend who listens to the dating woes of others and honestly wants to help empower them. Drawing from personal experiences and those of her friends, she urges readers to take charge of their self-esteem and psyches when a relationship falls apart. "You have to understand that he just isn't the right guy for you, not that you must not be the right girl for him." Though clearly not a feminist manifesto, Bosworth's dating advice is dispensed in a breezy manner that many readers will relate to. The text contains all the usual elements—quizzes, rogues' gallery boys to avoid, the type of guy to seek out, activities to soothe a broken heart, and plenty of personal anecdotes. The author is like the young hip aunt who offers advice about boys at family gatherings. However, with Laguna Beach and The Hills so 15 and 5 minutes ago, respectively, readers could be unfamiliar with Bosworth. Nonetheless, The Lo-Down still may provide guidance for teens exploring their first dating relationships.—Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta