Waiting for You

May 25, 2009
Though Marisa struggles with an anxiety disorder and depression, she starts the school year wanting “everyone at school to know I am not a freak anymore.” Her life becomes more exciting when Derek, the popular boy she has a crush on, asks her out. But when Marisa begins suspecting Derek's relationship with his ex, her obsessive negative thinking returns. Colasanti (Take Me There
) expertly handles the plot, keeping it ambiguous whether Derek is cheating on Marisa, or if he is being honest when he tells her, “You're accusing me of something I didn't do.” The author also nicely contrasts Marisa's exciting but shallow relationship with Derek with her much deeper connection to nerdy Nash, to whom she opens up about her problems. There is no doubt who Marisa will eventually be with (and readers will easily ID the mysterious Dirty Dirk, a DJ who provides advice and hope to students via podcasts). Colasanti presents an authentic picture of how complicated it is to be a teenager, especially one in love. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2009
Gr 7-10-With summer camp over, Marissa and her best friend, Sterling, eagerly await the beginning of sophomore year. Reality kicks in the first day of school though, and, according to Marissa, "it majorly sucks." Sure, Derek is at least smiling at her, but her history of anxiety and depression still haunts her, even though she is determined to put it behind her. Nash, her old friend and next-door neighbor who has not spoken to her in several years, is assigned as her lab partner. She enjoys talking with him but thinks he is much too nerdy for her. As the school year progresses, Derek breaks up with his girlfriend and he and Marissa begin to date. Everything is going well until she realizes that Nash has fallen for her, her parents are splitting up because her mother has had an affair, Derek and his ex are spending a lot of time together, Sterling is about to hook up with a guy she met online who is at least six years older than she is, and her depression is returning. Marissa can become a bit tiresome and the story's pacing is unevenparts of it seem to go on foreverbut the teen and her friends are realistic as they struggle to make sense of high school, romance, and families and as they realize that not one of them has a perfect life and that they all need each other's friendship and love."Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas, Denton"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

23tomere - Waiting for you, By, Susane Colasanti In the story Waiting for you, A girl named Marissa and her best friend Sterling are starting sophomore. This is there lucky year they both will get a boyfriend. Marissa has a HUGE crush a boy named Derek. Sterling likes older guys. Marissa’s family is a regular happy family at first. The family slowly starts to drift away. On the other hand Sterling doesn't have much of a family. Her dad moved away and she barely sees her mom. Dirty Dirk is a radio station that EVERYONE listens to at 11:00pm. When Derek gets dumped, She may have a chance of a true relationship. Nash is also a great friend. Who will Marissa fall for in the end. This story is a modern day love story that could happen anywhere.Marisa is a teenaged girl with longer hair and a little curvy. Sterling is a teenaged girl with long hair and and very skinny. Nash is a teenaged boy with short hair and skinny. Sanda is her little sister and is very fit and skinny. When sophomore year approached, Sterling and Marissa could stop talking about how it is there lucky year. When dirty dirk comes on the air he seems to get all what is happening in Marissas life. Derek is her dream boyfriend,When he gets dumped by Seairra. WHen Derek comes to sit at her table in art, she gets so happy. Sterling is more into older guys, she started to do online dating and they all turn out to be rejects. She decides to find someone her own age. With Sterling close to no family and Marissas family falling apart will their lives make a sudden turn. Will this make them happier or more depressed? The author Susane Colasanti decided to make little surprised that no one would expect. This is a great book if you are into realistic fiction and a romantic story.