The Complete History of Why I Hate Her

April 19, 2010
Seventeen-year-old Nola Werth puts aside guilt about leaving her cancer-stricken younger sister at home as she boards a bus intent on having “a scrapbook teen experience in just one summer,” with a job waiting tables at a Maine resort. Sarah Dessen fans seem the natural audience for what ensues—two months of learning about boys, friends, and where to place the fish fork. Friction is provided in the form of Carly, a girl Nola meets on the bus who quickly worms her way into a job at the same hotel and becomes Nola's roommate. Nola's first-person, present-tense narration is a bit too writerly to be believable: she describes herself as “thinly present”; she and her sister speak to each other in haiku throughout. And though Nola discusses her lack of confidence at length, she easily nails the lead in the end-of-the-summer play that is staged for the guests. Despite these minor flaws, the story has undeniable appeal, in large part because of the tension provided by Carly, who may or may not be a psychopath. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2010

Gr 7-9-Seventeen-year old Nola wants a break, that's all, from the stress of living with her 13-year-old sister, Song, who has cancer, and a chance to be on her own. On the bus to Maine, where she'll spend the summer waitressing at an upscale resort, she meets Carly, who seems like an ideal BFF-upbeat, confident, adventurous. Unfortunately, Carly is also hypercritical and manipulative, and intent on taking over Nola's life. She reveals her intentions in subtle ways at first, such as copying Nola's hairstyle, persuading her to do things she doesn't want to do, and turning everything into a competition. Nola doesn't realize how dangerous her new friend is until Carly starts to correspond with Song and invites her to Maine. Luckily, Carly's spell over Nola is broken before someone is seriously hurt. This is a well-written story about finding yourself and staying true to that self, an important message for young adults.-Robyn Zaneski, New York Public Library

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