Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys)

February 16, 2015
Sixteen-year-olds Riley and Reid play in a band together, but nothing’s quite the same after they catch their band mates hooking up. Thus, they decide to create a shared notebook, in which they will “document our journeys in search of true love and/or sex.” Riley has long obsessed over classmate Ted Callahan, and just when he shows some interest in her, Riley kisses another boy and is soon juggling three crushes. Meanwhile, Reid tries to attract a girl named Jane, and when that doesn’t work out, he moves on to someone new. Spalding (The Reece Malcolm List) devotes the bulk of the narrative to Riley’s first-person account of her romantic pursuits and her friendship with Reid; alternating chapters offer short excerpts from their notebook, which give a taste of Reid’s perspective on things. It’s refreshing to see a boy-girl friendship built on mutual support that doesn’t drift into romance, but while Riley’s voice is irreverent and funny, Reid remains on the story’s periphery. Ages 15–up. Agent: Kate Schafer Testerman, KT Literary.

January 15, 2015
So many boys, so little time; what's a rock girl to do? Music-obsessed Riley and Reid, a writer, are shocked to find out that their fellow band mates, Lucy (Riley's once-best friend and former confidante) and Nathan, have not only been secretly dating, they've also been doing it. Feeling glaringly inexperienced, Riley and Reid decide to keep a handwritten notebook-nicknamed the Passenger Manifest from the TV show Lost-chronicling all of their experiences with love, dating and sex. To Riley's surprise, she becomes involved with three guys: science-loving Garrick, who once dated a celebrity; Ted Callahan, her longtime, irresistibly floppy-haired crush; and Milo, a fellow band geek and tuba player. Riley and Reid carefully record every detail of their dating foibles, but when the Passenger Manifest turns up missing, what are they to do? Narrated mainly by Riley, the story provides small snippets of Reid's dating life-and, regrettably, little else about him-in the entries from the Passenger Manifest that appear between prose chapters. Riley's approach to sex is a long way from Forever...; losing her virginity seems to be more an item on her to-do list than a milestone moment. A not-so-fluffy chick-lit offering rife with angst, rock 'n' roll and lots of kissing. (Romance. 13-18)

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February 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-Sixteen-year-old Riley is pretty happy with her life so far. She has her best friends Lucy and Reid; their band, the Gold Diggers, is getting better; and school is not horrible. After walking in on Lucy and their other bandmate Nathan, Riley and Reid decide they need to do something to bring a bit of romance into their own lives. They make a pact: help each other with their respective crushes and document everything in a notebook. Reid tries to overcome his insecurity and anxiety; Riley gets in over her head with three different guys-Garrick, Milo, and her crush, Ted. While trying to figure out what to do about the men in her life, Riley also avoids Lucy, feeling like they no longer know each other. The band starts to take off but everything gets jumbled as emotions escalate and things get complicated. Then the notebook disappears and Riley and Reid must tell the people closest to them the truth. Character-driven enough to keep the story moving, this book will appeal most to teenagers questioning and exploring romantic relationships. Sex does happen in this story, more than once, along with a small amount of drinking. Most readers will find the notebook entries (done in a handwriting-like font) humorous and relate to the confusing feelings that come from acting on a crush or trying to date in high school. VERDICT Recommended for teens looking for realistic stories without a hefty amount of drama.-Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
Grades 9-12 Riley and Reid are stunned to discover their two bandmates are getting it on, especially when they themselves have so little experience dating. Determined to change things, they begin the Passenger Manifest, a journal of their crushes, successes (and failures), and advice for each other. While insecure Reid creates elaborate plans to garner Jane's attention, drummer Riley is actively looking for ways to get Ted Callahan's attention, gathering looks (and kisses) from lab partner Garrick and band boy Milo along the way. Reid and Riley continue to make music with their band and navigate the sometimes choppy waters of friendship. A nicely developed story line laced with humor by Riley is broken at important moments by Reid's voice in the journal, giving the novel appeal to both genders. Initial sexual encounters are treated somewhat lightly, though faithfully to many teens' experiences. Perfect for fans of Rachel Cohn's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2006), this novel is full of indie music references and the struggles of two terrifically imperfect teens who everyone will want to know.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)