Gimme a Call

March 8, 2010
Teens who long to fix past mistakes can do so vicariously in Mlynowski's (the Magic in Manhattan series) farcical fantasy. After retrieving her cellphone from a fountain, high school senior Devi discovers the only person she can call is herself—three years earlier. She immediately sees this as a way to warn herself not to get involved with the boyfriend who will break her heart. Freshman Devi is reluctant to take the advice of a “Crazy Stalker Girl” from the future, but eventually decides to change her fate by refusing to date a cute baseball player, forming a tighter bond with her girlfriends, and trying to persuade her father to quit his job before he gets laid off. As Devi strives to rewrite her history, unexpected mishaps occur. Switching between each Devi's perspective, the book delivers a mixed message about meddling with fate, showing that taking charge of one's life is important but indicating that some things—like falling in love—are destined to happen. Nonetheless, Devi's frenzied attempts to better herself create some funny moments and a touching conclusion. Ages 12–up.

March 1, 2010
Gr 6-9-Devi, 18, wastes her high school years devoting her time to her boyfriend, Bryan, who breaks up with her. As a result, she loses her girlfriends and only gets accepted to Stulen State (aka Stupid State). By happenstance, she drops her cell phone into a fountain, and, when she retrieves it, the one person she can call is her 14-year-old self, giving her the opportunity to fix her life. With every alteration freshman Devi makes, senior Devi's life changes as well. Temporary consequences include her former best friend trading an eating disorder for a plastic-surgery obsession, and her parents getting divorced. Some decisions bring about good results, like being accepted to Harvard, but with each calamity senior Devi puts more pressure on freshman Devi to fix the future. Mlynowski contrasts the priorities of both Devis, giving them each a distinct presence. Readers will quickly realize that freshman Devi has more poise than her older counterpart. The overbearing senior is fixated on getting into a good college at the expense of running freshman Devi ragged. Meanwhile, younger Devi focuses on adjusting to high school, her crush on Bryan, and being a good friend. In the end, both girls learn to live more balanced lives and that altering destiny isn't worth the hassle of cleaning up the mess it makes. Mlynowski fans will not be disappointed with this blend of chick-lit, light fantasy, and comedic mishaps."Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2010
Grades 7-10 When Devis high-school sweetheart breaks up with her right before their senior prom, she is devastated. Not only is she dateless but she is also friendless and relegated to a mediocre college because she has concentrated on her boyfriend instead of academics. Where were her priorities? In a fresh twist on time travel, she contacts her freshman self via cell phone and proceeds to change their future. Of course, one small change leads to others, and both girls begin to wonder about the wisdom of this collaboration. Mlynowski has given herself a complicated, challenging story, and she is particularly effective in conveying the differences in maturity and perspective between a freshman and a senior. The on-again, off-again friendship and college plotlines are a bit less polished. Still, Devi is likable regardless of her age, and the author taps into a universal fantasy: Who hasnt coveted a do-over in at least some aspect of life? Filled with tech-savvy details, this gives a contemporary feel to a timeless YA dilemma: how to keep friends and academic priorities while cultivating a love life, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)