Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes

October 15, 2007
First-time novelist Kizer launches a projected YA series with this occasionally witty tale of 15-year-old Gert Garibaldi. She’s a Brain (smart kid) struggling to fit into her high school world filled with Pops (popular kids), Giggles (trendy kids), and Things (bad boys/jocks). Best friend Adam serves as Gert’s lifeline and confidant, until he meets a cute boy and drops her like a hot potato. With no one to help her cope with some cringeworthy parenting and two burgeoning crushes, the sarcastic Gert flounders before pouring her heart into a diary. Titling entries either rants or raves, Gert’s writings on random topics humorously showcase her angst. However, these entries crop up somewhat abruptly throughout the narrative, often breaking its flow. The author also endows Gert with a fascination with sex and her body, which at first makes her seem real and representative of the target audience, but later goes too far, so that Gert sounds almost fixated. When appraising her appearance in the mirror, Gert says in a panic, “Mts. Everest and Kilimanjaro squished together are less conspicuous than my ass…. I have the world’s largest tush. I require a UN escort for international travel. Maybe even NATO.” Younger teen readers will relate to Gert’s insecurity and to her typical troubles, but even they may tire of her self-obsessed ramblings. Ages 14-up.

November 15, 2008
The third installment in the Gert Garibaldi 's Rants and Raves series finds the smart, plucky heroine fending off wolf-like advances from her dud of a boyfriend, playing peacemaker between her gay best friend and his boyfriend and coping with her dad 's sudden illness. Kizer breaks no new ground with her plotting, but in the world of chick lit, characterization is the power player that can make or break a title 's success. Gert 's unique, near-feminist perspective is dead-on, and without her wonderfully sassy, no-nonsense voice, the series wouldn 't stand a chance against the genre 's more celebrated staples. As a result, the ordinary events in Gert 's life become extraordinary, hilarious and occasionally witty, and readers will find a heroine that they can both identify with and admire. Atypical chick-lit fare that deserves to stand beside McCafferty, Cabot and Rennison. (Fiction. YA)

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February 1, 2009
Gr 8-10-Brainy and brassy Gert Garibaldi, high school sophomore, is still navigating the ups and downs of life in this sequel to "One Butt Cheek at a Time" (Delacorte, 2007). Punctuated with frank rants (some more crass than others), the narrative proves her to be a witty, intelligent, and insecure teen trying to figure out who she is (while getting it all on paper). Along the way she feels the pressure of SATs and SEX, though she's more ready for one than the other. Dumped by a boyfriend whose (lack of) kissing skills leaves Gert questioning her sexuality, she supports her closest friends, Clarice and Maggie, and, of course, the sometimes-neglectful-but-still-best-friend Adam, whose romance with Tim struggles under the weight of unsupportive parents and homophobic classmates. Gert gets hired (peddling doughnuts sounded easy) and tired (running around for the new soccer team, attempting to catch crush Lucas's eye). In the midst of a family crisis, she rises to the occasion, demonstrating growth and a responsible side. With her snarkiness and verve (but with more depth and less nonsense), Gert will appeal to older fans of Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicholson (HarperCollins). Sexual situations, creative swearing, and underage drinking are included. Reading the earlier title isn't necessary but new readers might be compelled to do so. The ending suggests a third installment, and fans of the first two books will likely clamor for it."Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ"

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