Maria T. Lennon

I checked this book out because I searched under war correspondent and happened upon it. The title sucks, the cover even worse!! Meant to be click bait for Chick-lit.

Very confusing book. I read it, cant say I enjoyed it. Two very different atmospheres, two very different men, two very different continents, the dichotomy of our heroine, Saffy. All thru the book I'm thinking WTF. She was a war correspondent but the biggest dumb ass ever.

The house bring sold in Malibu was a ruse. And being a ruse there was no sale and no money.

The ending made no sense.… (más)

I absolutely adored this book. Okay, full disclosure, I am a middle child, but every young adult and old adult who's young at heart and has labored the pains of childhood, sibling rivalries, and school pressures, will love this book. I can't remember reading a middle grade book whose main character is so lively, complex, and hilariously flawed with all that makes as human. Charlie just jumps off the page in her dialogue and view of the precarious world of young adulthood where every misstep rings in the end of the world and where popularity rules! It's so easy to relate with her immature and self-absorbed fears and troubles while at the same time rooting for her to become a better person on her own terms. I also appreciated how Maria Lennon threaded in "middle child psychology" into the narrative in a way that didn't feel trite but organic to Charlie's journey. I also enjoyed the setting and mysteries surrounding the Houdini house.
… (más)

Maria T. Lennon writes a funny book about a girl who finds her potential to be nice.

Charlie C. Cooper spends her summer grounded after doing a very bad thing at school. In fact, it was so bad that she was kicked out of school, her family had to move, and she has to see a shrink on a regular basis. She must spend 8:00 a.m. through noon in her room reading all summer. The books are not what anyone would want to read: _Love Thine Enemy, Love Thyself,_ _Embrace Your Inner Middle Child,_ etc. Summer is over and she is starting her new school. She's got her outfit picked out and wants to be part of the popular crowd.

Here's the catch. Her shrink wants her to befriend the most bullied kid in school who has no friends. This is NOT what Charlie cares to do; she'll never make friends hanging with a loser! The first day of school, Charlie sees her: Marta the Farta. Great. Here's a girl with hair that doesn't look like it's been combed or washed in ages, yellow teeth, clothes that don't fit and are hideously ugly, and she almost growls at people. This is not going to be easy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Charlie is so selfish and really isn't very caring towards other people. She's not a bad person, however, and does the assignment the shrink gives her. Of course, it's a feel-good novel and ends with good overcoming the school bullies. You won't regret reading this one.… (más)