It's a Mall World After All -- Janette Rallison

I can identify with Charlotte the Perfume Spritzer.  For one, she understands the many and varied frustrations of working retail:

Like, just because it is the season of brotherly love doesn't mean shoppers are pleasant.  This is especially true if your store happens to run a special on SuperTeen talking action figures and then runs out of them.  In that case, you get a lot of people complaining to you even though you are just a lowly perfume sprayer and had nothing to do with stocking action figures, running advertisements, or whatever.  I mean really, did these people think I was stashing a supply of action figures in my perfume smock or something?

For another, she is an unabashed grudge-holder*.  Due to the assholic behavior of some of her classmates in middle school, Charlotte (now in high school) has made it a policy not to date her male classmates, let alone like them.  She does still has to interact with them, though -- her most obnoxious tormentor, Bryant, has been dating her best friend Brianna for some time.

When she sees Bryant flirting with another girl at the mall, Charlotte realizes that she had been right about him all along.  But Brianna, fully aware of the grudge, takes Bryant's word over Charlotte's.

Charlotte's quest for evidence of Bryant's cheatin' ways includes:

Accidentally pushing Mr. Cute -- also Bryant's best friend -- into a pool
Two miniature soda-throwing bandits
Off-limits cherry tomatoes
Inappropriate use of Bunsen burners
A minuscule elf costume

Bubbly, way fun, and squeaky, squeaky clean -- I didn't notice any swearing, sex, drugs or alcohol.  Safe pick for young fans of the Traveling Pants and Princess Diaries movies (which were both geared younger than the books they were based on), while Charlotte's voice is also mature enough to entertain older teen chick-lit fans.

*Seriously.  This is major.  There are people on my Bad List for wronging me in middle school.  Hell, elementary school.  I realize this is silly, but I don't care.  I'm comfortable with my pettiness.

Comments

[Shayera]

I'm with you on the grudge holding. Luckily (for them) I've moved across the country and can pretend they don't exist. Dead to me.

[Shayera]

And the book looks super cute.

[Kelly Fineman]

Sounds perfect for my 12-year old. Thanks for the review/tip.

[johny hobbo]

this is the worst book i have ever read and it should be burned in hell.

[Bria]

I thought this book was great.I really enjoy books by Janette Rallison. his is the second book I've read by her and it really pleased me.I could really understand it and I think it really relates well with teens. I can't wait to read more Janette Rallison books!