This is a cute book for younger teens. By the time you reach 7th grade, everyone has had a boyfriend! Or so Kara McAllister thinks. She is so upset because she is the only person who hasn't had a boyfriend, or even her first kiss! Even her best friend got her first kiss during spin the bottle! All Kara got was a lousy handshake. This is what gives Kara a great idea. She has to turn in her science fair project in a few weeks, and what would be better than to do a project on what makes a good soul mate (or boyfriend). She uses the scientific method and different charts, graphs, and surveys to create her data on her project. This witty book takes you places that no 7th grade girl should have to go, including the boys' bathroom! Kara has to go through the ins and outs of middle school drama: including liking her best friend's boyfriend, being teased by the "popular girls", and having to deal with "unfair teachers". I feel like this book is something that any girl, 4th through 8th grade, could really identify with. Kara feels like she is the only girl without a boyfriend and she learns throughout the book that it is okay to not have a boyfriend, and she is able to really discover that she is special in her own way. By being true to herself she is able to gain a lot of new friends, respect, and maybe even a boyfriend....
I loved the fact that the author was able to integrate the scientific method, bar graphs, circle graphs, line plots, and surveys into a cute book that any girl would love to read. In order to gather data for her project, she goes through some interesting situations. She even ends up in the boys' bathroom! It is easy to imagine this story as having actually happened. The situations that Kara gets put in are laughable and you are able to feel sorry for her as she is trying to maneuver her way through middle school.This is a quick read and a great book to help lift up your spirits! It is not a book that I would usually read, and it is certainly geared towards younger, female readers, but it was still enjoyable to me!
I have this one on my shelf and can't wait to read it! Thanks for sharing your review....I know my students will LOVE IT!
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