MATES, DATES AND MAD MISTAKES

This amusing but cautionary tale, the sixth in the Mates and Dates series, finds British teen Izzie and her mates, Lucy, Nesta, and TJ dealing with issues such as peer pressure to drink and to become sexually active. Izzie, so confident and self-assured in the beginning, manages to handle the challenges but not without running into some trouble. Shirley Barthelmie's characterizations, inflections, and pace are completely convincing. She conveys the weariness of a frustrated mother, the silliness of an inebriated teen, the bravado of a flirtatious teenage boy, and the giddiness of young girls sneaking out to get their belly buttons pierced. She perfectly captures the frenetic nature of teenagers who seesaw from despair to elation, and back again. M.H.N. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]