Product Description

THE SMART THING Is to Prepare for the Unexpected.
So reads the fortune cookie fortune that Amanda receives at the beginning of her family’s vacation to Florida. Amanda knows all about preparing for the unexpected—her mother, whom she calls The Captain, is always hard on Amanda, and it’s just when Amanda lets her guard down that the very worst comes through. Looking for acceptance, Amanda turns her attention to boys, and doing whatever she can to be popular at school. That includes making out with the gorgeous senior Rick in his car after school—even though he has a girlfriend. And when Rick offers her The Deal—a real, official date to the Homecoming in front of everyone, in exchange for her virginity—Amanda jumps at the chance. But no matter how you try to prepare for the unexpected, sometimes you can’t. Sharp, chatty, and brutally honest, this debut novel is compulsively readable and heartbreakingly real.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #693509 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-08
• Released on: 2008-07-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780385735407
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—Amanda Himmelfarb is the constant victim of The Captain, aka her mother, who spends most of her energies either fighting with Amanda's father or being cruel to her older daughter. As the family drives to Myrtle Beach, where Amanda is eagerly awaiting a reunion with her love interest from the previous summer, her parents argue incessantly. Although she is a beautiful and intelligent young woman, as well as a talented poet, her mother's constant disapproval has left her with dangerously low self-esteem, and she goes from one disastrous sexual experience to another, allowing herself to be used in hopes of gaining acceptance. When she begins secretly "dating" Rick Hayes, she is blind to the fact that he is clearly only interested in her for sex. Ultimately, she agrees to lose her virginity to him in exchange for him "going public" with their relationship at the homecoming dance. Sadly, she spends most of her time in the back of his van, only to have Rick go back to his girlfriend moments after he has sex with Amanda. Through a heart-to-heart with her loving aunt, the teen is able to forgive herself for her mistakes and hopefully move on to make wiser decisions in the future. Rife with raw emotions, the sex scenes are both graphic and sad, leaving readers cringing at Amanda's self-defeating behavior. The tension throughout the novel is so palpable that it is often exhausting. The story moves at a quick pace, however, thanks to Amanda's honest and often humorous voice, as well as her thoughtful poetry interjected throughout.—Michelle Roberts, Merrick Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"Baldini and Biederman make a powerful debut with this painfully realistic tale." -- Publishers Weekly (6/30/08)

Review
Starred review, Publishers Weekly, June 30, 2008:
"An ambitious, timely first novel."

Customer Reviews

Funny and heartbreaking at the same time - for "girls" of all ages!
For Amanda Himmelfarb, everything's a battle - her frizzy hair, a humiliating nickname, her goody-two-shoes disease of a sister ("Malady"), and most of all, her demanding and critical mother, "The Captain". Desperate for love and acceptance, Amanda sets her sights on Rick Hayes, not coincidentally, the boyfriend of her arch-nemesis Courtney Flakey ("Himmelfart's" original architect). But Rick's affection is far too conditional: he's willing to be Amanda's date to the high school dance, although only in exchange for her virginity, a price so high that its aftermath causes Amanda to completely unravel, and forces her to confront the truth about her mother--and herself.

This compelling, and original novel is laugh out-loud funny, but no one will close it without shedding a tear or two. NOT just for young adults, by any means--this book is highly recommended for girls of all ages who've ever had a mother, a daughter, or both.

Perfect for book clubs
Amanda Himmelfarb is one of the most endearing characters I've read about in a long time. There were times I wanted to jump into the novel and grab her and stop her, but she is so real and funny and truthful (as are the authors). My daughter is leaving for college next week and I so wish I'd had this book several months ago, when I was trying to figure out a way to talk to her about her life in high school. Very highly recommended!

A book for our times
If you ever wanted to know what your 15 year old daughter is thinking and feeling, this book is a MUST read! Written with a witty, modern voice, Unraveling is more than just a story of teenage angst and a mother/daughter relationship, it is a story of love, friendship, and forgiveness. A wonderful read for all ages.