Patricia A. Smith

Very interesting book. I enjoyed the fast paced thrilling story!

Mystery upon mystery upon mystery. Who killed Leo Rivera? Do the police have the right suspect? Will S.J. and Deidre stay together? Will Deidre's position at Brandywine be threatened? Is it possible to be openly gay/lesbian in a working class community? The Year of Needy Girls poses all these questions and takes a good while to answer them. Still, an enjoyable read, if at times fraught as the reader follows S.J. and Deidre as community events pull them in different directions.

Received this book as part of the Early Reviewer program. The premise is good, but there is little connection with the characters. The characters worry a little too much. The mother who begins the witch hunt is stereotypical. The ending is a little too obvious.

This was definitely a book that held my interest. I was engrossed in the story and thought it was a twist on a situation we've heard about--teacher and student involvement. There was also a lot of overlay with the murder in the background and the fact that neither protagonist was really sure what they wanted in life. Overall, a good book and I would recommend reading it.