Title: Vegan Virgin Valentine
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 076362155-2
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 228
Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It: Saw a news story from Texas where a parent is trying to get the book removed.
Where I Obtained the Book: Got it from my local library
Synopsis: From the author of the award-winning THE EARTH, MY BUTT, AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS comes the racy story of an overachiever who learns to get over it — and get a life. Mara Valentine is in control. She's a straight-A senior, a vegan, and her parents' pride and joy. She's neck-and-neck with her womanizing ex-boyfriend for number-one class ranking and plans to kick his salutatorian butt on her way out the door to Yale. Mara has her remaining months in Brockport all planned out, but the plan does not include having V, her slutty, pot-smoking, sixteen-year-old niece — yes, niece — come to live with her family. Nor does it involve lusting after her boss or dreaming about grilled cheese sandwiches every night. What does a control freak like Mara do when things start spinning wildly out of control?
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 076362155-2
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 228
Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It: Saw a news story from Texas where a parent is trying to get the book removed.
Where I Obtained the Book: Got it from my local library
Synopsis: From the author of the award-winning THE EARTH, MY BUTT, AND OTHER BIG ROUND THINGS comes the racy story of an overachiever who learns to get over it — and get a life. Mara Valentine is in control. She's a straight-A senior, a vegan, and her parents' pride and joy. She's neck-and-neck with her womanizing ex-boyfriend for number-one class ranking and plans to kick his salutatorian butt on her way out the door to Yale. Mara has her remaining months in Brockport all planned out, but the plan does not include having V, her slutty, pot-smoking, sixteen-year-old niece — yes, niece — come to live with her family. Nor does it involve lusting after her boss or dreaming about grilled cheese sandwiches every night. What does a control freak like Mara do when things start spinning wildly out of control?
Review: The story of the Valentine girls, on the verge of finishing school and transitioning into their adult life. Fairly easy to identify the controversy as the “good” girl learns to chill out and gets it on with her 22 year old boss/boyfriend (she is a 17 year old HS senior). Plus she decides to slow her march through academia to spend more time on her life and with her guy. The “wild” one smokes pot and decides a bad reputation is a viable way to make yourself noticed in a new environment.
The above paragraph is a simplistic breakdown of the plot that does a disservice to the story, and provides a misguided view to what is going on. Having read a lot of books about teen girls lately (it is amazing how many of these books parents try to get banned) I think Mackler did a really good job. You have the one girl skipping her youth trying to be some image of what perfection is. That is always a losing gambit and typically a person will just self destruct in a fiery crash. But enter in her wild niece, whose whole life is in transition, who spends her time avoiding commitment and responsibility. Together they bond and learn there is a happy medium to be found. Life on the extremes does not make for a happy life.
In the end the two find happiness and friendship. It is a good read for any of your young friends trying to find their way through the vicissitudes of life.
Author Biography: Carolyn Mackler is the author of the popular teen novels, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (A Michael L. Printz Honor Book), Tangled, Guyaholic, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons. She is currently at work on her sixth novel.
Other Reviews:
Why is it protested?: References to alcohol and drug use among high school aged girls (17). Plus they have intimate relationships with their boyfriends. The only thing controversial to me would have been the age difference between the lead girl and her boyfriend (17 to 21). While not a big deal in the big picture (would have been 18 shortly), it is a little icky for an “adult” to date a HS attending girl.
The most interesting controversy is the comments section on Amazon. The protagonist is not a Vegan by books end and that has stirred the ire of Vegans everywhere. They are truly ticked off and do not seem to care about the book other than that. Consequently they are affecting the total review score (on Goodreads as well). Generally it seems they got the book because it said Vegan on the cover and then felt lied to.
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