Synopses & Reviews
The story of a high school heroine--funny, wise, and reminiscent of Marjane Satrapi--negotiating a trying spring semester at her southern California prep school
Tina M., sophomore, is a wry and endearing observer of the cliques and mores of Yarborough Academy ("The name makes it sound fancier than all the public schools in the area. You'd really think the Prince of Wales attended"). And of the foibles of her intellectual Indian family ("Just so you know, my parents have never tried to lock me into a child marriage"). She's on a first-name basis with Jean-Paul Sartre, the result of an English honors class assignment to keep an "existential diary."
The plot thickens as Tina is dumped by her best friend and smart-girl ally, forcing her to embark on a life of eating school lunch (existentially) alone during the week, and of weekends being dragged to family parties at various new-money chalets in LA's Indian enclaves. Until the lead in the school play goes to Tina, among other astonishing events.
Is a kiss on the mouth--Tina's mouth, but not technically her first kiss--from cute skateboarder Neil Strumminger be the meaning of existence? Can an English honors assignment be one fifteen-year-old girl's path to enlightenment?
Review
"In the flagrantly funny I Love You, Beth Cooper...Larry Doyle gives the coming-of-age novel a swirly." Vanity Fair
Synopsis
Denis Cooverman didn't want to give a typical graduation speech, cherishing memories and embracing challenges and crap. So, instead, he stood up in front of his 512 class-mates and their 3,000 relatives and said something really important:
"I love you, Beth Cooper."
It would have been such a sweet, romantic moment. Except that:
Beth, the head cheerleader, has only the vaguest idea who Denis is.
And Denis, the captain of the debate team, is so far out of her league he is barely even the same species.
And then there's Kevin, Beth's remarkably large boyfriend, in town on furlough from the United States Army.
Complications ensue.
Denis comes of age overnight in this exhilarating, endearing novel that reminds us why we can't wait to escape high school but can never leave it behind.
Synopsis
A side-splittingly funny debut novel which follows the graduation night coming-of-age of a high school valedictorian who instead of giving the usual speech publicly confesses his eternal love for the most popular girl in school.
Synopsis
Perry Stormaire is a normal high school senior– he is busy applying to college and rehearsing with his band –until he agrees to go to the prom with the Lithuanian exchange student who is staying with his family. It turns out that Gobi Zaksauskas is not the mousy teenager that she seems but rather an attractive, confident trained assassin. Instead of going to the prom, Perry finds himself on a wild ride through the streets of New York City as Gobi commandeers the Jaguar his father lent him for the prom in order to take out her targets. Perry learns a lot about himself – and ends up with some amazing material for his college application essays.
Synopsis
In the tradition of
Persepolis and
American Born Chinese, a wise and funny high school heroine comes of age.
Tina M., sophomore, is a wry observer of the cliques and mores of Yarborough Academy, and of the foibles of her Southern California intellectual Indian family. She's on a first-name basis with Jean-Paul Sartre, the result of an English honors class assignment to keep an and#8220;existential diary.and#8221;
Keshni Kashyapand#8217;s compulsively readable graphic novel packs in existential high school dramaand#8212;from Tina getting dumped by her smart-girl ally to a kiss on the mouth (Tinaand#8217;s mouth, but not technically her first kiss) from a cute skateboarder, Neil Strumminger. And it memorably answers the pressing question: Can an English honors assignment be one fifteen-year-old girland#8217;s path to enlightenment?
Synopsis
Best friends Renée and Flo have been inseparable for years. But now, as high school graduation looms, the girls’ rock-solid friendship is beginning to show cracks. Flo has her heart set on going to university, with Renée right by her side, but all Renée wants is to stop going to school as soon as possible. To distract themselves from the inevitable and frightening future, Renée gets swept up in a romance with an older man, while Flo starts attending a church group. With such different paths and views on life, the girls start to worry that it isn’t just high school that’s ending—but also their friendship.
Told through alternating perspectives in a gritty, poignant, and hilarious voice, Goose will appeal to fans of Rainbow Rowell, Louise Rennison, and Lauren Myracle.
Synopsis
Ferris Bueller meets La Femme Nikita in this funny, action-packed young adult novel. Its prom night—and Perry just wants to stick to his own plan and finally play a muchanticipated
gig with his band in the Big Apple. But when his mother makes him take Gobija Zaksauskas—their quiet, geeky Lithuanian exchange student—to the prom, he never expects that his ordinary high school guy life will soon turn on its head. Perry finds that Gobi is on a mission, and Perry has no other choice but to go along for a reckless ride through Manhattans concrete grid with a trained assassin in Dads red Jag.
Infused with capers, car chases, heists, hits, henchmen, and even a bear fight, this story mixes romance, comedy, and tragedy in a true teen coming-of-age adventure—and its not over until its “au revoir.”
Synopsis
From a filmmaker,and#160;the story of a high schooland#160;heroine--funny, wise, and reminiscent of Marjane Satrapi--negotiating an existentially trying spring semester at herand#160;southern Californiaand#160;prep school
Synopsis
Double crossings, kidnappings, CIA agents, arms dealers, boat chases in Venetian canals, and a shoot out in the middle of a Santa Claus convention ensue in this laugh out-loud action packed sequel to the critically acclaimed Au Revoir Crazy European Chick.
Synopsis
When Perry ends up in Venice on a European tour with his band Inchworm, he cant resist a visit to Harrys Bar, where Gobi told him shed meet him someday. The last time he saw Gobi, five people were assassinated one crazy night in New York City. Well . . . Gobi shows up, and once again Perry is roped into a wild, nonstop thrill ride with a body count. Double crossings, kidnappings, CIA agents, arms dealers, boat chases in Venetian canals, and a shootout in the middle of a Santa Claus convention ensue.
About the Author
Keshni Kashyap was raised in Los Angeles, California. She studied literature at Berkeley and film at UCLA. Tinaand#8217;s Mouth: An Existential Comic Diary is her first book.
Illustrator Mari Araki, an artist and storyteller, was raised in Ishikawa, a suburb of Kanazawa.andnbsp; She is a graduate ofandnbsp;Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and lives in Southern California.