Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress

January 29, 2007
Nicolette has not gotten over the popular "Rascal" ditching her before junior prom, causing her to miss out on a big date in the perfect dress. She and her mom try "humor as medicine," keeping the title list taped to the refrigerator. Silly suggestions of what to do with "The Dress" begin many of the chapters ("Use the beautiful pink material as a death shroud after you die from complete and utter humiliation"). But even as the aptly named Rascal continues to flirt with her (behind his girlfriend's back) Nicolette finds herself spending more quality time with Jared, her best friend's brother. Tensions escalate between Rascal and Jared, and also between Nicolette and Alison. (Not to mention that Nicolette is dealing with family drama, including her mother's failing career and her father's life with a new wife and two-year-old daughter.) Readers might wish that newcomer Ferraro had chosen to tackle less so she could have developed the major story lines a bit more. Even so, teens will find it easy to cheer for genuine Nicolette, who always tries to do the right thing, whether that means helping her mom pay the mortgage, or having to weigh Alison's ultimatum that Nicolette must choose between her best friend and her best friend's brother. In the end, readers will not be surprised to find out who Nicolette goes to the homecoming dance with (or what she wears), but they will be thrilled nonetheless. An author's note suggests how to donate a formal dress. Ages 12-up.

April 1, 2007
Gr 9 Up-At the end of sophomore year, Nicolette Antonovich was invited to the junior prom, bought the absolutely perfect dress, and then had the offer rescinded when Rod "Rascal" Pasqual's girlfriend returned to town. Crushed, she half-jokingly comes up with the "Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress," giving readers the title of this witty view of teenage life. From this point on, she struggles with the waxing/waning interest of Rascal, and the pitfalls of loving the wrong boy. She eventually realizes that the right boy for her is her best friend's older brother, which creates all types of havoc. Nicolette is a likable, down-to-earth protagonist who is grappling with a lot of issues, and readers will quickly identify with and understand her. Ferraro does a fine job of setting up an interesting plot, funny dialogue and situations, and an engaging lead character."Emily Garrett, Armstrong Elementary School, Sachse, TX"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 12, 2007
Nicolette has not gotten over the popular "Rascal" ditching her before junior prom, causing her to miss out on a big date in the perfect dress. She and her mom try "humor as medicine," keeping the title list taped to the refrigerator. Silly suggestions of what to do with "The Dress" begin many of the chapters ("Use the beautiful pink material as a death shroud after you die from complete and utter humiliation"). But even as the aptly named Rascal continues to flirt with her (behind his girlfriend's back) Nicolette finds herself spending more quality time with Jared, her best friend's brother. Tensions escalate between Rascal and Jared, and also between Nicolette and Alison. (Not to mention that Nicolette is dealing with family drama, including her mother's failing career and her father's life with a new wife and two-year-old daughter.) Readers might wish that newcomer Ferraro had chosen to tackle less so she could have developed the major story lines a bit more. Even so, teens will find it easy to cheer for genuine Nicolette, who always tries to do the right thing, whether that means helping her mom pay the mortgage, or having to weigh Alison's ultimatum that Nicolette must choose between her best friend and her best friend's brother. In the end, readers will not be surprised to find out who Nicolette goes to the homecoming dance with (or what she wears), but they will be thrilled nonetheless. An author's note suggests how to donate a formal dress. Ages 12-up.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.