Kiss My Book

February 1, 2008
Gr 7 Up-Sixteen-year-old Ruby Crane has just published her first book to much acclaim. No longer the unpopular girl on the sidelines, she's signing autographs for teachers, dating a hot guy, and making the circuit of New York City literary gatherings with her agent and publicist. Then, suddenly, in unmistakable "ripped from the headlines" fashion, Ruby is discovered to have plagiarized the work of another novelist. Fleeing reporters, back-turning friends, and her life with her parents in the city, she retreats to the safety of her quirky aunt's home in small-town Whispering Oaks, NY. Ruby, who quickly becomes "Georgie" and attempts to toss away her former life with yesterday's newspapers, is forced to figure out who she really is. In the short space prior to the girl's public outing, she's already transformed from geek to chic. In her actions, thoughts, and words, she seems somewhat unbelievable as the erudite bibliophile she claims to be. Yet, while Ruby is at first underdeveloped and her path to self-discovery unfolds in a somewhat predictable manner, Michaels ultimately takes a topical scandal, shows the oft-unexplored side of the accused, and spins a tale filled with the stuff of any beloved young adult novelgrowth, love, acceptance, friendship, and ghosts. (The supernatural element may diverge from the standard fare, but it does make for a quirky and poignant plot twist.) Readers will find themselves drawn to Ruby and will end up rooting for her redemption."Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2007
Ruby Crane, a high-school sophomorein Manhattan, has been catapulted into the fast lane after publishing her first novel, scoring a movie deal, and landing a popular boyfriend. Ruby is a true book person, who loves to read, write, and share the joys of literature with others. Then, at her televised debut at the American Literature Club, she is accused of plagiarismand whats worse, she is guilty. Ruby flees to her aunts home in a tiny rural town in upstate New York where she changes her name and tries to sort out her feelings, forswearing all things literary. Meanwhile, she falls in love with charismatic intellectual Jacob. But books keep resurfacing for Ruby, and eventually, so does her infamous past. There are a few too many plot devices here, and implausible resolutions (such as the renaissance of reading in a previously book-free hamlet) abound. The books strong pull is Rubys contagious passion for words and truth. Good readers might scoff at the unlikely romance of it all, even as they race to the conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)