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erinmp's review against another edition
3.0
Cyd Charisse likes to think of herself as a badass teenager. A badass teenager whose best friend happens to live in a nursing home, and a boyfriend named Shrimp. Cyd Charisse has been kicked out of her hoity-toity boarding school back East, and now she's returned home to San Francisco. But things aren't going so well on the home front and Cyd's not getting along with anyone--especially her mother. So her mom and dad ship her off to the one place she secretly wants to go: New York to visit her real dad (aka bio-dad).
I really liked this one. It's written well, in the style of a teen, but without the out-of-touch adult feel that more often than not accompanies YA books. Cyd is a character who learns a lot about herself and the world in this one summer, and for once she starts to look forward to the future. A good novel of understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.
I really liked this one. It's written well, in the style of a teen, but without the out-of-touch adult feel that more often than not accompanies YA books. Cyd is a character who learns a lot about herself and the world in this one summer, and for once she starts to look forward to the future. A good novel of understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
3.0
I'm so glad I didn't get sucked in by the other reviews and I gave this book a chance.
I actually really liked it. It's quirky and a little odd and - Jeez, Cyd Charisse has got some funky things she says - but for the most part, it's a coming of age. Cyd is a spoiled brat. And she has no idea how good she has it!
So, when she is sent away from her comfy, loving, over-protective house to her real-father Frank's house...it's an experience she won't soon forget.
and, I think Cyd's reaction to what she endured - silently - and how no one knew. I think that she took it out on everyone around her (that were not to blame), I think that was a very real, very accurate picture of how something like this can play out. And I respect Rachel Cohn for her honesty in it (even if it's not a pretty truth).
I actually really liked it. It's quirky and a little odd and - Jeez, Cyd Charisse has got some funky things she says - but for the most part, it's a coming of age. Cyd is a spoiled brat. And she has no idea how good she has it!
So, when she is sent away from her comfy, loving, over-protective house to her real-father Frank's house...it's an experience she won't soon forget.
and, I think Cyd's reaction to what she endured - silently - and how no one knew. I think that she took it out on everyone around her (that were not to blame), I think that was a very real, very accurate picture of how something like this can play out. And I respect Rachel Cohn for her honesty in it (even if it's not a pretty truth).
allmadhere106's review against another edition
4.0
A true coming of age story. Cyd is mature in many ways, already having had experience with drugs and sex at a young age. She knows how to manipulate people to get what she wants and she understands most people’s motives. Regardless, she is very selfish and hides behind her childhood memories of her father who remains with his “real” family on the other side of the United States. Cyd doesn’t feel like she fits with her own family and instead entertains the idea that life would be much better with her real father. In an effort to help her, her mother sends her to spend the summer with her father. Here, Cyd learns that she and her father are very alike-—in a bad way-—and through this she begins to take a look at herself. Deals with mature themes such as drugs, abortion, sex, etc. Has a constant humor/sarcastic tone throughout that help the reader enjoy the character even though she makes questionable decisions. There is a sense of growth within the arc of the story, yet still leaves a feeling of incompleteness. Two more books follow this one so the character may continue to grow throughout.
creyno10's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kricketa's review against another edition
5.0
cyd charisse is my new favorite ya book heroine of all time. i love her unique and amazingly real voice, and that she is a badass but can be insecure, and immature, and make stupid mistakes, and still be so lovable.
amiejcp's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book - actually quite liked it, though I can see where some of the bad reviews are coming from.
The writing style is really unique, gives the character more of a voice, I guess, though it could be a bit annoying.
Really short book, interesting character. Will read the rest, definitely.
The writing style is really unique, gives the character more of a voice, I guess, though it could be a bit annoying.
Really short book, interesting character. Will read the rest, definitely.
lacheri's review against another edition
3.0
I love this book. I couldn't wish it any better. It shows what happens sometimes in life. Family problems and teenage hradships. Oh, and how you can't really judge someone if you haven't really met them.
panelparty's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars purely for the nostalgia - i LOVED this book as a young teen and remember searching for sequel in every bookstore and library I came upon for YEARS. It mostly holds up - the character does have an odd way of speaking and makes questionable choices, but who doesn't at 15? This is was so warm and fuzzy for me to re-read as a 30 year old. :)
joha_010's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
guerrillabooks's review against another edition
5.0
I think I am a very forgiving person... at least when it comes to books. I usually say that I really liked x and y about such and such book but I was a bit miffed by z.
This book has left me miff-less. No miffing to report here.
Short and sweet - the book... not at all the main character. But, the absence of "sweet-ness" in Cyd Charisse is probably one of the things about her that endears me to her.
The premise: The book is about this girl who carries around a doll named gingerbread which her real dad gave her at the airport one year and she’s kept it ever since for a reminder of her dad who she never sees.
I think Cohn's definitely got a cool style going for her in her writing. This is the first book of hers that I've read but I have watched Nick and Norah... and I will read the next two books about Cyd Charisse [b:Shrimp|28109|Shrimp|Rachel Cohn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167922764s/28109.jpg|1866427] and [b:Cupcake|196764|A Piece of Cake A Memoir|Cupcake Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172602557s/196764.jpg|436014] to test out my theory. But it goes something like this: Illustrate a moment in time for a character and make you feel the impact of the moment, don't drag it on forever, make it short and simple, but include enough backstory to add dimension to the character... and make 'em irresistable.
This book has left me miff-less. No miffing to report here.
Short and sweet - the book... not at all the main character. But, the absence of "sweet-ness" in Cyd Charisse is probably one of the things about her that endears me to her.
The premise: The book is about this girl who carries around a doll named gingerbread which her real dad gave her at the airport one year and she’s kept it ever since for a reminder of her dad who she never sees.
I think Cohn's definitely got a cool style going for her in her writing. This is the first book of hers that I've read but I have watched Nick and Norah... and I will read the next two books about Cyd Charisse [b:Shrimp|28109|Shrimp|Rachel Cohn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167922764s/28109.jpg|1866427] and [b:Cupcake|196764|A Piece of Cake A Memoir|Cupcake Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172602557s/196764.jpg|436014] to test out my theory. But it goes something like this: Illustrate a moment in time for a character and make you feel the impact of the moment, don't drag it on forever, make it short and simple, but include enough backstory to add dimension to the character... and make 'em irresistable.