Product Description
High school has ended for the five girls from the books "Saturday Night", "Last Dance" and "New Year's Eve", and they're having one last performance party together before they start their new lives on their own. Can this really be goodbye? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fine ending
I loved this series as a girl, starting with Saturday Night,then New Year's Eve and Last Dance.This is the last one in theseries, and while it's not as good as the others, it's a fine ending,sending the girls -- Anne, Kip, Molly, Emily and Beth Rose -- off totheir lives after high school.Some of it is disappointing -- unlikethe others, it doesn't continue some of the characters from the lastbook (what happened to Gwynnie?) and there's some boring drama (whocares which new boy Beth Rose ends up with?And a cheap play fordrama with Kip almost drowning) but if you liked the other three, youhave to read this one.A word of advice for people looking for thebooks in this series ... ... Read more

Product Description
Despite her aversion to its horrendous name and scent, Dove feels compelled to purchase a bottle of Venom, and soon she realizes that the perfume has released her evil unborn twin into the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

the perfume
i loved this book it's one of my faveorites i've read it 10 times and it never gets old i deffenitly recomed this to anyone looking to take a trip that's stranger then going down the classic rabbit hole. it's about a girl who gets a perfume that she doesn't like but gets it anyway it relases her vanished "twin" who destroys her life almost kills her boyfriend and makes all her friends hate her READ THIS BOOKrecomeded for kids 13 and up suspence thriller

Caroline Cooney Wrote THIS?
Perfume is the story of a plain, quiet girl named Dove who buys a bottle of "evil" perfume under an influence not quite her own; when she does so, her evil twin, Wing, is unleashed.

When it starts out, "The Perfume" can't decide if it's going to be a complex story about a girl with emotional problems, or a horror story about good and bad both fighting to win; the beginning is a bit of a drag.

Beging a die hard fan of Caroline Cooney's, I thought it would be a great addition to my collection and a good scary read, however I was kind of dissapointed in it because unlike with her other horror books (The Stranger, The Mummy etc ) the plot never sucks you in deep enough and seems kind of stupid in the end. Definatly not Cooney's best work.

Bottom line: if you love horror in any way, shape or form, or Caroline Cooney, then buy. Otherwise don't waste your money.

Rather interesting, and sort of spooky.
I think this book started off a little slowly, but after that, the action just blew past me.I thought it was a very good book, and it was very original for the author to incorperate the vanished twin syndrome and Wingcoming back.

Awesome!
This book was really interesting.I loved Dove's name and "multiple personality.It kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how she would deal with her twin sister's spirit living in her head.

Really creepy, I loved it.
Wow this is a book that really makes you take a closer look at those strange things you buy just 'cause. Icouldn't stop reading it. ... Read more

Product Description
Lacey and her friends just want some fun. And what could be more fun than spending the night in a creepy old house? Especially a creepy old house with a strange circular tower? It's all just harmless fun, right? Wrong! A vampire lives in that tower, and he wants something before he'll let them leave. One of them will have to stay . . . and there's only one more catch. Lacey and her friends must choose the person who has to stay behind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good
Randy knows all his friends just hang out with him because he's got a big house and cool stuff. He wants them to like him for who he is instead, so he tries to impress them by thinking up a plan to stay overnight at the "Mall House", a creepy abandoned mansion with a circular tower. And so begins the story, with six teenagers locked inside a tower with a starving vampire. He makes them a promise: if the kids choose one of their own to stay and be the victim, the others may leave unscathed. Who will be sacrificed?

This book concludes The Vampire's Promise trilogy. I have to admit that I found the first half of this book somewhat boring. The switching viewpoints were poorly executed and most of the characters' internal thoughts were uninteresting. However, a little after halfway through there's a big plot twist and things finally get good. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

One of my favorite books
I've read this countless times and the first time I read it I was already 18 years old.Claudia's the best character.There's also a sequel to this book, but that's not as good.

The counslers & campers get into all kinds or relationships
I love this book! You really get to know the characters, like they are people you actually know. I think thats why I liked it so much. Don't be hesitant about reading this book. It's funny, spirited, clever, deep andmore. Once I read this book... I HAD to find out what happened so I readcamp reunion.. a very good book too! I wish I had this book, I've bensearching far and wide...

One of the greatest books in the whole world!
I also want to say that I absolutely loved this book! After I read it for the first time, I had to read it again, and I wish I have the book. It was really, really funny, and everything about it was superb! I'd say the most important charachters were Marissa, Vi, Dark/Heath, Alicia, Cathy, Charlie, Claudia and Jamie. And I would really like to have the sequel, 'Camp Reunion', because since I have already fallen in love with 'Camp Girl Meets Boy', I'm sure that I'll also love 'Camp Reunion'.

Me again, D23H

P.S. This time I'll include my e-mail address.

Best Book In The World!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me start off by saying thatI have read this book at least 13 times and it never lost its flavor. The book as a whole was, and still is,the best book I have ever read. It is deep, passonite and caring; witty and informative. Now I will review each of the main characters inturn. Marissa is a kind nature lover. I can really relate to her. Vi appears ditzy, stuck up, and fluffy at first, but as the book goes on you see that she is really quite deep. Cathy seems nice and caring at first, but you get to see her true colors later, mean, hateful, and insensitive. Sin looks like a Ken doll. He appears perfect, but as he makes mistakes (like falling in love with Cathy) you see that he is just another human being. Jamie is hardworking, honest, and most of all muscular. He is trustworthy. Jamie strives to be a woodsman. Dark (Heath) is just an innocent boy who has fallen into trouble. I perfer his mysterious, dark side and sexy smile to Heath, boy in pain. Charles is insensitive to others feelings, and most of all, he's annoying. Alica is a sensible person and has a typical nurse personality. Her biggest mistake- loving Charles. Claudia is my personal favorite. She is innocent and charming. She handles her parents divorce in a hunorous way but inside, she is really hurting. This book is very well written, and I would reccomend it to others ... Read more

Product Description
This book is an examination of the major themes and topics of Caroline Cooney. Cooney's large body of work for adolescents defies easy classification. She has written award-winning adventure, suspense, romance, family, mystery, and historical fiction, as well as action-driven horror stories and a time-travel trilogy. Her purpose in some books, most notably the horror such as "The Perfume", is merely to encourage reluctant readers to enjoy literature. However, in her most serious and artistic books, Cooney relies on a source that is likely to surprise her readers: biblical stories and parables. For example, readers can find the seed of the idea that eventually became "Whatever Happened to Janie" in the story of King Solomon's wisdom when he was asked to decide which of two women, both of whom claimed to be mother of an infant, should be recognized as the true mother. The parable of the Good Samaritan provides a backdrop in several of Cooney's most successful novels. Cooney's understated use of Biblical Stories, and the way her Christian faith subtly informs her fiction, are explored in the book. The organization of the text reflects Cooney's major fiction categories: the "Janie" mysteries, romances, catastrophe novels, horror and suspense novels, the time travel trilogy, and Cooney's historical fiction. Representative books are discussed in detail within each chapter. Although most of the text is devoted to critical analysis of her literary work, and of the intersection of fiction and faith in her novels, Cooney's biography is also presented, within the frame of her life as a single mother of grown children, in this text. The influences of her talents as an organist who played regularly for her church, the lessons she has learned from her children when they were teenagers, life experiences that have led her to consider issues of race and gender, and her family support of her work are examples of issues that are discussed, drawing on notes produced during an interview with Cooney, in a brief introductory chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Rear-View Mirror
I started reading this book, even though i knew nothing about it, i have always been a huge caroline b cooney fan and i have read all her books, but please don't read this one. In only the first chapter they drown a baby, kill a dog and a few cats, they go into graphic detail about all of it, it was disgusting and couldn't even force myself to finish this book. There are a lot of better books by Caroline Cooney to read i would recomend all of them except this one.

A wonderful suspense thriller for people of all ages!!!!
I had to pick a book for my English final and I am not the sort of person who likes to read if I have to, so I had a hard time choosing a book.This was no mistake though I could not put it down.Events kept on happeningand I was sitting on the edge of my seat.Although I am only in HighSchool I recommend this to anyone who loves to have some excitement in whatthey read.

I just couldn't put this book down!! A great book to read!!
This is a really good book to read if you can find it. I found mine at alocal second-hand store. This book makes you want to run out and read moreof her books. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The only dissappointmentof this book was that it ended. I wish it would have went into more detailabout the characters. ... Read more

Product Description
Tod Lockwood has never wanted to be anyone's knight in shining armor.  In fact, he wants to avoid having anything to do with girls, at least for the present.  But that's before Devonny Stratton steps into his life out of the nineteenth century.

As for sixteen-year-old Devonny, she has no plans for marriage until her father arranges to wed to the contemptuous but well-connected Lord Winden.  Devonny has only one hope. Someone must rescue her. Can Tod Lockwood be Time's answer to her prayers? Life never seems simple to Devonny, but do the solutions to her problems await her in the future?  Or will she only become a prisoner of a different time? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

GREAT Time travel series
This book is recommended for teens/young adults however I say this book is for the young and old. Great story line and you'll fall in love with the main characters. Enjoy.

Prisoner of Time
ISBN 044022019x - This book is a little on the romance-y side for some, my teenaged self included.Fortunately, I'm no longer a teenager and found it entertaining.

Devonny's father is a wealthy man - and that might be the most positive thing that could be said about him.In 1898, men make the rules and the decisions and women follow, and Hiram Stratton has decided that his 16 year old daughter will marry Lord Winden before the world knows the family's shameful secret: Devonny's missing and presumed dead brother was insane.Insanity likely flows in Devonny's blood, so getting her married off is of some importance.Giving her father a titled grandchild, however, is of more importance.

Devonny, on the other hand, knows the type of man she'd like to marry - and Lord Winden is NOT that type of man.In fact, she tells him what she thinks he is: horse manure.Then she is forced to apologize when her father orders her to accept his proposal.She is in desperate need of rescuing...

Tod Lockwood, boy of the twentieth century, has no interest in rescuing anyone.First of all, his mother - a strong, capable woman - would be appalled at the thought of a female who needed rescuing.More than that, Tod has decided to get rich first, and fall in love later.If only Time weren't intent on mucking up his plans.While filling bottles at a public pump at Stratton Point, which Tod markets to tourists as "designer water", Tod is flung back in Time and brought face to face with Devonny, who begs him to save her.

The story itself is nice, if not fantastic.The greatest problem is that Cooney didn't make much of an effort at telling a stand-alone tale.Readers like myself who haven't read Both Sides of Time (Scholastic Classics) and Out of Time will find the vague and incomplete references to the happenings in those books annoying.One paragraph was all it would have taken to bring latecomers to the series into the loop, but Cooney failed to do that.The closest she comes is a recap that starts on page 167, by which time, my annoyance was pretty intense - too little, too late.I found it worth reading, but suggest others might find it better to read the series in order, or not at all.

hmm...
I loved the first two books before this one and she seems to make it a filler book. Like the author needed to get this part of the story out of the way so she could write the rest. I see how meeting each other changed Devonny and Todd, but it really was sort of a waste because Devonny ends up marrying Lord Winden anyway, and Todd...well he does whatever. and where was there father in this book? because in the next and last book it says that their parents had gotten back together, so shouldnt they have been talking in this one?

Three things that really bugged me
Okay, so I really, really adored the otehr two books in this series, but a couple things in this particular book really annoyed me:
1.) The characters all seem to have split personalities, because their mood changes in the blink of an eye.
2.) Tod fell in lvoe with Devonny, who's brother Strat fell in love with Annie, Tod's sister.This absolutely SCREAMS incest.Eew.
3.) Um, hello? Isn't this series suposed to be more about Strat and Annie, the much more developed and inruiging characters of the story?

Otherwise, I'd say this book is pretty good. It'd just be better if it was independent instead of in a series, is all.

weak for a third book
I have read the whole series by Ms. Cooney, but to me this one's the weakest of the four. The story of Anne and Strat was going good, and then she has to bring Devonney and Tod in to the scene. But I do believe that she had her reasons. During the period, women were suppressed by male, and Devonney was way ahead of her time. It did both Tod and Devonney good to learn about the past and present(or future) and realize their potential as a human. Although it was an odd-one-out from the Quatret, it was a good read. ... Read more

Product Description
Losing her entire memory after witnessing a terrible crime, Hope cannot accept her luxurious life or the man who claims to be her father and finds solace in Mitch McKenna, a college student who may solve her mystery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Unforgettable fun!
I really enjoyed this unusual mystery by unique author, Caroline B Cooney..All of the characters were actors and complete nutcases, who got themselves in some pretty major trouble.
The biggest mystery within is who is Hope Senneth really?...if she even exists at all!!!

Unforgettable
Unforgettable is the best book I've ever read! The book Unforgettable takes place in the present in Boston. The author of the novel is Caroline B. Cooney. The novel is about a girl named Lynne Cook, the main character. She puts on an act in public and gets everyone's attention. Lynne pretended that she didn't remember who she was, but she really did. After Lynne received everyone's attention the whole book revolved around her. Many things happened. For instance, some people were kidnapped and others were stabbed. If a character was lucky then they somehow got away from the horror they could have gone through.
It all started when one day Lynne was acting, which she loves to do, but this time in public and many people came up to comfort her because she was crying. She said she didn't know who she was or where she was. Then a tall, slender man in a black suit, that had black hair and looked sort of old, came up to Lynne. He told everyone that he was her father and said Lynne's name was Hope. That information wasn't true and Lynne and the strange man both new that. But they each went along with it, which was the wrong thing to do, for Lynne especially, and also for others. Other events happened in the story. Some events were good, others were sad and some events were horrible. Once in the story the tall man and his real daughter, Kayla who had a buzz-cut and was short and skinny and wore very expensive but weird clothes, kidnapped Hope and brought her on a ship where they had kept many other people that they had kidnapped as well. Kayla by the way was a very sick-mindedperson. To find out whom was stabbed, where the strange man came up with the name Hope, and to find out if Lynne lived or not, read the book Unforgettable.
The novel Unforgettable made me sit on the edge of my seat! The book was very mysterious and suspenseful and those are the kinds of books I love. I would recommend this book to anyone. I don't think any other book can top the one I just wrote about and I didn't give very many details. So if you want to find out the really juicy details that I didn't mention, read the book I partially described because let me tell you, it is unforgettable!

This book is one of the best books I've ever read.
This book is about a girl, Hope, who just moved to Boston from the country.When she was walking around the city, she saw a boy named Mitch, with whom she got to begin a relationship with.But, she also saw a caraccident. Ever since then, she cannot remember anything.Like what shelooks like, where she is, or who she is. There is also something suspiciousabout the man who is claiming to be her father.If you like suspensefulbooks, I recommend this book for you.I guarantee this story will keep youon the edge of your seat all the way through the book! ... Read more

Product Description
As her friends go off to college and she opts for work, Hallie Revness soon discovers that her role as prom queen, cheerleading captain, and girlfriend of popular Jaz will do little to help her in the real world. Reprint. SLJ. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Her tough transition...
Just for a little background info on me, I have a BA in English as well as psychology. I worked as a children's library assistant for my first four years out of college. I read this in high school, and reread it years later when I worked at the library. This is such an excellent book for so many reasons. Cooney creates characters so real, you'll never forget them. Hallie/Helen had a lot of problems, but she never took the easy way out. Read this book, especially if you're in high school. I promise that you'll never forget it.

The Party's Over
For Hallie Revness, life is a party!Nothing else matters.It is senior year and Hallie is in charge.She has organized EVERYTHING, the sports banquets, the parties that are on the beach, at peoples houses, or restaurants, etc.Hallies' life is going perfect.She has a great boyfriend who is wonderful to her, she is the captin of the cheerleading squad, she is thin and fashionable.It's the end of summer break and everyone if off to college, except for Hallie.She thinks that everything is going to be the same, even after high school.She stays at home and can't find a job that she likes, but all of the places that she wants to work at won't hire her because she has no education past high school.Hallie's best friend meets new people and Hallie thinks that she is being replaced.Jaz(her boyfriend) also gets new friends and Hallie starts to re-think her decsion about not going to college, after she realizes that the party is over!

I really enjoyed this book, because I can relate to Hallie.I am a really social person and I just want to have a good time.Even though I am only a freshman, I have been thinking about college and what I am going to do with my life after high school.Life in high school sometimes seems like a party!This book helped me realize some of the consequences of not going to college, before I mess up my life and make the wrong decsion.After I graduate will the party be over? I hope not, I hope it is just at a different place...college.

The Party's Over Is a Great Book!
"The Party's Over", by Caroline B. Cooney is a great teenage novel that stars Helen Revness, or Hallie. Hallie has the perfect life, she's a senior who is the captain of the cheerleading team, the prom queen, and has a rich, handsome boyfriend, Jaz. Hallie's senior year is perfect, thanks to all of her planning.
As the perfect summer comes to an end, Hallie has to say goodbye to all of her friends, including her best friends Flavia and Jaz, as they're off to college. Since Hallie has decided she's had enough of school, she isn't going to college, unlike ninety nine percent of her graduating class. She feels left out and now has no idea what her life will bring next.
Hallie searches for a job under the influence of her parents, but her beauty over brawns is no longer helpful. As Hallie's filled in on her friend's college lives, she can feel their friendships falling apart. But what really matters is what will happen between her and Jaz. Will she find a job, what's her future?
My favorite part in the book is when all of Hallie's friends go off to college. I think that she deserved what happened because her life was almost too perfect. My least favorite part would have to be right before the very end, and you'll have to see why! My favorite character is Flavia, Hallie's "girlfriend", because she's very outgoing.
This book is apart from all the other books that I have read because it's actually about a girl's life and how it changes over time. Unlike almost every other book that I've read, it has a problem that might not be solved as quickly as others. This book's very interesting and I definitely recommend it to other readers!

The Party's Over
I personally thought this book was extremely dramic and it dragged on.But someonelse might like it. This book was about a girl who had everything she could of ever wanted in high school until the summer of senoir year when the conversation changed from clothes or movies to college. She wasn't planning on going to college and found it annoying when everyone talk about it. Well, I thought she was the most annoying person in the book. You will have to read the book to find out how her life changes when her friends go college and sne is stuck at home trying to get a job.

The Party's Over
I thought this book was awesome!!If you have ever felt like you are alone in the world, or you know someone who has felt like that I think you would love this book.When someone is very down and feels like they have no one in this world, what do you do?You try to cheer them up or you feel simpithetic for them, right?This is exactly what this book is about.About a girl who hates school and decides not to go to college with her friends after high school.She was prom queen, cheerleader, wonderful boyfriend, all anyone could hope for.when everone goes off to college, her parents also decide to take a trip around the United States since their youngest child has now graduated.She has to cope with the empty feelings inside her and try to move on with her life.This story is wonderful anyway you look at it, so if you didn't find my review helpful, I'm sorry, I hope you find the next persons review helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
In order to survive, Anaxandra pretends to be a princess. She manages to stay safe until the war between Troy and Sparta. She journeys to Troy, but is followed and is soon caught up in both the fighting and a struggle with herself over where her loyalties lie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

AMAZING
This book really is amazing.I would recommend this book to any one

AMAZING
This book really is amazing.I would recommend this book to any one ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

saturday night.
wow. this book is sooooooo good, i started reading it and i didnt put it down until i was done (at about 11 pm). Its all about how 5 girls' lives are changed by one saturday night dance.

A good book
Ok, starting off.. this book was EXCELLENT! It was realistic and it just got to ya somehow.. and it wasn't one of those happy-ever-after kinda deals, this showed the joys and pains of four girls in high school.Theending was really good, and unless you already knew it you wouldn't thinkof there being a continuation, but there is, and its called "LastDance". Now all that i am asking of you is that if you know theother book in this "series" or what not (i already have the 3rdbook New Year's Eve) PLEASE TELL ME THE NAME OF THE OTHER BOOKS!thanks

An ABSOLUTLY GREAT book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is great! I recomend this book to anyone who likes good romance books with a little twist!

Good!
Not surprisingly, though. Good, solid plot, vivid, seemingly alive characters- a powerful examintion of woman, their hopes, dreams, and nightmares. I liked it ... Read more

Product Description
Caught up in a world of dangerous intrigue, a billionaire's daughter and the son of an assassinated senator are forbidden to see one another by their powerful families. But theirs is a love so strong that nothing will stand in its way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

really good book!!
This book is about a girl named Annabel and her dad is a billionare. Her aunt, Theodora is a famous anchorwaman who has a secret that she didnt want to get out in the press. Jade, an average girl whose parents had adopted her, is determined to get to Theodora, because she knows she is her mom. No one believes her but she does look a lot like Theodora. Annabel meets Daniel at a high-society party and they fall in love. Then they find out that there is a secret that makes it forbidden for them to go out. Read this exciting book to see what the secrets are and what happens!

Romance & Mystery: no match for the Tragedy the secret holds
Forbidden by Caroline B. Cooney is one of the best books I have ever read.Ittells the story of two young people desperate for love. One thing stands between Annabel Jayquith and Daniel Ransom's star crossed love, the murder of Senator Ransom who was shot to death as he stood to give his speech. Catherine Ransom and twelve year old Daniel watched as he died, and vowed they would find the murderer.A family made famous by a murder, looking for answers.But will the truth cause more pain? Ten years later, Daniel meets Annabel and they fall in love, but his search for his father's murderer leads him to believe Annabel's father is the killer.Daniel is faced with a life changing decision. Eighteen years ago, Annabel's aunt Theodora's career as a talk show host was flourishing when she became pregnant.She gave the baby up for adoption.Now Jade O'Keeffe wants everyone to know who her real mother is. Jade becomes jealous of Theodora and Annabel's relationship.She is desperate for loveaffection and attention, but how far is she willing to go to get them? Forbidden, is an intriguing romance mixed with mystery, suspense, and tragedy.I could not put it down.Every page is full of excitement and wonder.Every chapter is filled with suspense and some new little bit of information.It is fun trying to put the pieces together to solve the mystery first.If you liked Romeo and Juliet, you'll love Forbidden.

A brilliant modern-day Romeo and Juliet retelling.
In a wonderful and original way to approach the eternal story of forbidden love, Caroline B. Cooney blends the confusion and passion of adolescence with mystery, excitement... and a good deal of Shakespeare thrown in for good measure!
A lengthy read (my United Kingdom Scholastic Point edition has 309 pages,) Cooney has given herself the length necessary to chart the peaks, troughs and complications of infatuation, genuine love, parental disapproval, "the sins of the fathers", the role of the media and political manipulation- all shown through the eyes of contemporary teenagers. Through all this, the pace remains consistently rapid; a real page- turner in every sense.
Multi- layered, complex and genuine: if only someone had given it to me before I read Romeo and Juliet for the first time!Comparisons to the recent Shakespearean film, though cinema-goers would certainly find this novel interesting either before or after viewing, are un-necessary, for Cooney's fiction is so powerful it doesn't need the gratuitous violence; her personalities act and work for themselves. Much to the author's credit, their weapons are words.
Teenage or adult? Male or Female? Studying/ Teaching Literature? Or just want a darn- good yarn? I say, "GO FOR IT!" ... Read more

Product Description
Sixteen-year-old Matt knows not to expect anything of life, or people or Christmas. But his foster sister, Katie, hasn't yet learnt not to hope. When all the foster kids make their Christmas wishes, Katie asks for a family. Matt reckons no-one gets a family for Christmas - do they? ... Read more

Product Description
Intrigue. Suspense. Romance. Evil schemers, innocent victims, and true love. Is it a TV soap opera? Not exactly. It’s what’s happening to 16-year-old Sophie Olivette when her father announces he wants out of his marriage and has found a new true love. And where is Sophie’s mother? She is seeking “inner harmony,” and doesn’t seem to notice that the family is falling apart. As for Sophie’s older sister, her anger adds drama, but doesn’t help. Only her classmate Ted seems a solid, reasonable, and even good-looking person in the midst of the mess around her. How do you fast forward to the final episode–and can it possibly end happily ever after? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

I love this book!
What a purely delightful read this book is! "Tune In Anytime" is set up like a soap opera with each new episode a continuation of the lives of the Olivette and Larkman families. A family drama, the book is quite the deviation for Caroline B. Cooney, a suspense genre writer.

Poor Sophie Olivette is the still point amidst the self-centered members of her family: Daniel, 49, who plans to divorce his mate, then remarry a young model; Edith, the old wife, a long-time self-seeker; Marley, older daughter, feisty college student; and Sophie, a sensible high school student longing for her family to remain intact.

At the beginning of each chapter an italicized script introduces a typical soap opera plot, then adapts it to the Olivette family. The chapter follows the thread but in most unusual ways. First, the writing is pure magic. I will reread this book just to recapture the lovely enchantment of Cooney's words. Second, the characters never react to events in expected ways. There is an aura of mystery and other worldliness to them. Could it be caused by the stone circle on the Larkman property, where Edith plans a solstice party to precede the New Year's Eve wedding of her soon-to-be ex-husband. There's a bulldozer involved.

One of the best parts of the book is the slowly evolving romance between Sophie Olivette and Ted Larkman, high school student and third-generation gravel pit operator. His parents are doubly involved: in the plot and in the magic. Sound confusing? The novel is open-ended, but how the relationship turns out is as obvious as fairy dust.

Think of the best of Woody Allen, then you have a sense of the strange evolving in this modern day fairy tale. Very highly recommended!

Avoiding Divorce
Sophie's life has suddenly turned into a soap opera.Her mother has always been sort of strange, getting interested in odd things.Now she seems to think there is some special meaning in the partial Stonhenge erected in her neighbor's yard.She wants to finish the stone circle and dance around it in the dark.Sophie's father has decided he has had enough, and he is planning to divorce Sophie's mother and marry the former college roommate of Sophie's sister.He will then sell their beautiful home and find a small apartment for Sophie and her mother to live in while he travels the world with his new young wife.

No one seems to think that there is any reason for Sophie to be as upset as she is.She hates her father for being insensitive and not listening at all to her concerns.He doesn't even seem to notice she exists anymore.She is angry at her mother for not fighting back, for pretending everything is fine and living in her own little world.She is angry at her sister for being away at college and being so self-centered that she won't come home to try to help.

So Sophie comes up with a plan.She will bulldoze her house.That way her father will have no money to travel the world and his new fiance will leave him.And they will all live happily ever after.But will her neighbor, her quiet and sensitive classmate Ted whose family owns gravel pits and several bulldozers, help her with her plan?Or will he be able to talk her out of it?

I thought the character of Ted was great, and I loved his family and his relationship with them.I also liked how his parents dealt with Sophie and her mom.I hated Sophie's parents, though.Her father was a horrible person and I wanted Sophie to hate him completely.Her mother was far too concerned about herself when she should have been concerned about her daughter.Their marriage wasn't worth saving.

Brittany's review
Sophie is so mad because her dad is with a woman named Persia which is sophie's sister Maley's age.Not to mentio he is still married to mom.Sophie's dad doesn't care, and her mom acts really weird.Sophie thimks that since her dad wants a divorce the he doesn't love her mom anymore.Sophie then thinks that maybe she will never be loved or be able to love again.Eerything leads up to a party that her mom is throwing with a bunch of her friends.While at the part all of her anger builds up and she decides to bulldoze her husbands house.At the end her husband is very upset but sophie and her mom have a sense of relief, and no longer does her mom act weird.

Tune In Anytime Review
Tune In Anytime is about a young girl named Sophie, who is 16-years-old and her dad is getting remarried to a 23-year-old.Her name is Persia.She was Marley's ( Sophie's sister) roommate, but when they went home to visit Marley's family, Persia fell in love with Daniel even though she knew that he was married.Daniel didn't care eather.He loved Persia as much as she loved him.Sophie hated her and would make her life miserable for the rest of her life.

Another Interesting Problem
"Who was going to remember all of this when the family broke up?Not Mother.She wasn't involved.Not Dad.He didn't even know anything was breaking."

Sophie Olivette lives in a small town with her father and mother.She loves how everything goes her way and nothing too disastrous happens.Yet.

Marley has just gone off to college and Sophie is extremely excited.She won't have to fight with her sister and they will become closer than before.Little does she know, Sophie will need Marley more than she ever would.After her father's hidden love for Marley's roommate is revealed, her life will never be the same.

Marley was on her usual visit home and introduced her new roommate, Persia, to the family.Soon after that, Sophie noticed unusual behavior in her father.He began to ask about Persia, -how they were getting along, how she was in school, and when she was coming back with Marley to visit.One day it was finally revealed that Mr. Olivette and Persia were in love and getting married.Sophie couldn't believe what she was hearing.Could this be true?Could her own father have a new love?From then on, Sophie did anything possible to make her father feel guilty.

Sophie reacquaints herself with a few people and becomes better friends with them.Her friendship between Ted Larkman, a former classmate, has grown larger than ever, even to the point where they have stronger feelings for each other.Ted and his family know the problems the Olivettes are going through and decide they are going to help.Mrs. Olivette finds a half-completed "stone henge" on the Larkman's land.She wants to move the last stone there to re-join them by the winter solstice.It takes pure courage to help a family with this need and it is extremely brave of Ted and his family to try.

If I could describe Tune in Anytime in one word I'd say surprising.Its soap opera-like content had me guessing what would happen in the next chapter.I couldn't possibly be bored reading it.Its detailed plot will absorb the reader and make them feel like they're right next to Sophie the whole way, like they're living out her life.Sophie took life to the extreme and won in the end.Not only is this book exciting, but it also teaches the reader a lesson about life, -don't let serious things go; take careful action and it will go your way in the end.There are many surprises, exciting conflicts, twists, and obstacles in Tune In Anytime; there is no way anyone could possibly put it down.A reader who is going through tough times at home or knows someone who is having problems similar to Sophie's, I strongly recommend this book to you!

Jessie W.
Des Plaines, Illinois
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