The Truth About Forever by Sarah DessenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
At the start of this this enjoyable first-person narrative, Macy aims to be perfect. She doesn't want to rock the boat; her father's recent unexpected death has shaken her family enough. Told over the time period of a summer break, Macy is a clear example of a character that shows growth. Macy begins her summer with a perfect boyfriend, a college-application-worthy job, and dedication to her SAT studies. Though following a prescribed course, Macy isn't happy, though she doesn't realize this at first. When Macy meets Delia and her catering staff at one of her mother's events, Macy begins to crave change and joy in her life. Through her newfound friendships, Macy explores what she really wants in her life and she finds it's not always the expected.
I struggle to put limits on the intended audiences of books. Sarah Dessen is an author of books for anyone who wishes to read them, not specifically a book for girls/women. Though this book's main character is a young adult female, this is a young adult book, period. However, I will say this book has been marketed to a female audience. The cover shown here shows a bright pink flower; the cover of the copy I read features a turquoise bracelet. I took several classes on young adult and children's literature in grad school (I'm a librarian AND a trained as a high school English teacher!). We were taught that boys prefer books with a male protagonist and that girls will generally read anything. While this might hold some truth, to assume this about every young adult/teen is not fair to readers. I am interested in what more "seasoned" YA librarians think, as well as what actual young adults think. Is it appropriate to assign gender-based audiences to young adult literature?
Mrs. Sparks
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