It Started with Goodbye

March 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-When 16-year-old Tatum Elsea is arrested for being a getaway driver for her best friend Ashlyn and her boyfriend Chase, she is charged with a misdemeanor. Her punishment is a $500 fine and 100 hours of community service. In addition, Tatum's father and stepmother decide that she should be under house arrest for the entire summer, allowed to leave only for work and community service. Luckily, Tatum's stepgrandmother will be around to act as a buffer between her and her strict stepmother. Ashlyn has been sent away for the summer and refuses to respond to Tatum's emails. But Tatum becomes close to Abby, a schoolmate who is doing the same community service. Abby suggests that Tatum spend her "jail" time productively and encourages her to advertise her web-design skills. With very little effort, Tatum ends up with a few clients, one of whom is her perfect stepsister Tillie, who at first has no idea that Tatum is behind TLC Design. Tatum's decision to come clean with Tillie transforms their previously frosty relationship into true sisterhood. The quick changes in Tatum's stepmother's and Tillie's attitudes add to the fairy-tale quality of the story. A glib contemporary coming-of-age novel loosely based on "Cinderella," this book is suitable for teens who enjoyed Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries. VERDICT A good purchase for large collections.-Marlyn Beebe, Long Beach Public Library, CA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2017
Grades 7-10 After being falsely accused of a crime, Tatum is faced with a summer of community service. To make matters worse, her best friend is not speaking to her, and she is being kept under her stepmother's watchful eye. Looking for a way to be herself again after this tailspin, Tatum secretly starts a graphic design business. With a new friendship blossoming at her community service project, a flirty e-mail correspondence with a client, and a supportive stepgrandmother, Tatum's summer begins to turn around. In this modern take on Cinderella, Tatum embarks on a summer of learning, during which she tries to figure out who she is and to understand different points of view, leading to a changed perception of her family. While a few references feel dated and some of the supporting cast underdeveloped, Tatum's journey of understanding and self-reflection is relatable and appealing. Steer readers who enjoy the updated fairy tale angle toward this book and follow with Ashley Poston's Geekarella (2017). A nice addition where contemporary fiction is popular.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)