MATES, DATES, AND PORTOBELLO PRINCESSES

The irresistible Nesta and her girlfriends, Lucy and Izzie, are back. Nesta has found the perfect boy, but she also needs her friends to keep her grounded. Melissa Eccleston gives a good-natured profile of each girl while subtly demonstrating how much the girls share despite the differences in their goals, values, and family lives. Nesta's beloved is Simon, whose wealthy background is in stark contrast to her "financially challenged" family. Eccleston masters the speech patterns of the varying classes and pokes fun at prejudice. A pleasant surprise is her lovely voice as she sings a vocal composition by one of the girls. Teens will identify with this timely gem. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]