In or Out
Claudia Gabel, . . Scholastic/Point, $8.99 (238pp) ISBN 978-0-439-91853-4
Gabel’s debut novel centers on two longtime best friends with very different perspectives about entering ninth grade. Shy, timid Nola, who “usually went unnoticed in a crowd,” is terrified of starting high school. Self-confident, boy-crazy Marnie, who has always lived in the shadow of her popular older sister, is excited to “totally reinvent herself.” She assures Nola that they will soon become “two of the most popular girls in our class.... And of course, no matter what happens, we’ll always have each other.” The story follows a predictable path, as Marnie worms her way into the popular posse, led by mean girl Lizette, who possesses the power to decide “what’s in and what’s out, not to mention
Reviewed on: 06/18/2007
Genre: Children's