Whit is a teenager just learning about feelings for girls and judt trying to gow up. I like that he makes mistakes that any other teen would make and the author truly makes him like a regular person. He's kinda dorky and far from perfect. I like the way the author makes him seem real and I like her style of writing. ( )

Gr 6-9-- Eighth-grader Whitman is extremely preoccupied with making a positive impression on girls. At the same time, he is coping with his parents' imminent divorce, the unexpected big otry of his best friend, and his part in the class play. Vail is a master at portraying adolescent self-absorption, awkwardness, and fickleness, all with freshness and humor. The dialogue be tween teen characters is also simultaneously authentic and funny. While there are no earth- shattering developments, deep realizations, or new insights offered, it doesn't matter. This book is valuable for its ability to help young people laugh at themselves and realize that they are not alone in the predicaments they face. -- Jacqueline Rose, Southeast Regional Library, NC ( )

Realistic fiction, a middle school romance from a boy's perspective, with a touch of sports fiction thrown in. An on-target look inside the early adolescent mind. - Dr. Kottke