This book had a great way of showing two important lessons: 1) People aren't always as nice or mean as they might seem to be; and 2) Trying something just once, even if on accident, can lead to a spiraling addiction. I absolutely loved this book. Poppy seemed like someone I would get along with great, minus the shop lifting, of course. It just goes to show how easily someone can be influenced by peer pressure when they're trying to fit in in a new place. Watching Poppy get into shoplifting and then becoming fully addicted to it was interesting and eye-opening. It's amazing how quickly something that seems innocent at first can escalate into a huge problem.

The fact that Poppy attended a Baptist school threw me off at first. Until the shoplifting started, I was wondering how in the world that would be incorporated into a book that seemed so pure otherwise. But everyone at Calvary High seemed to have their own little secrets, which was really interesting and made me think twice about my view of religiously oriented schools. Addiction and peer pressure can influence anyone, no matter how "pure".

I loved a lot of the characters, but my opinions of some of them were changed drastically by the end of the book. At times, it became almost like a mystery trying to figure out who was doing things with good intent and who wasn't. But of course in the end it all fell together, and I was happily satisfied with the ending. There was something about the style of Wendy Toliver's writing that I loved, and I can't wait to read more of it. ( )

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

Just before her sophomore year, Poppy Browne is taken from her normal life in Boulder and unwillingly put into a new town, Pleasant Acres. There, Poppy will be attending Calvary High, a Baptist school that has its fair share of sins and secrets.

Right off the bat, Poppy causes quite a stir with her nose piercing and a few snarky comments, which gets her noticed by the popular girls, Whitney and Mary Jane. She's never felt the need to fit in, as back in Colorado she hung out with the tats and pierced crowd. But now she faces a dilemma of which clique to befriend. Should she choose the ever-popular and extremely gorgeous girls, or the "Good News Choir" that features Bridgette Josephs, the all-around overachiever and Poppy's very own Calvary High tour guide?

Intrigued by Mary Jane and Whitney, Poppy finds herself getting friendly with the two, wondering how she climbed up the social ladder so quickly. Unfortunately, Poppy will soon discover that being friends with these two girls probably wasn't the best choice to make. Turns out they have an itch for shoplifting.

Before she knows it, Poppy is lifted into an entirely foreign world filled with an irresistible and charmingly arrogant preacher's son, old grudges, revenge schemes, and a whole new temptation complete with a rush that is full of expensive merchandise. Can Poppy handle such things as crushes, a best friend's boyfriend issues, and backstabbing, or will she need a quick prayer and some major forgiveness to get her through the year?

Wendy Toliver realistically portrays a girl swept into a world of stolen goods where the rush takes control and the actions become impulsive. Poppy, as the central character, gives the novel a lighter feel, with her hilarious outlook on life and love. LIFTED has all the important qualities that make it a good read: it's fun, smart, and extremely addictive, just like the main character and her frowned upon new habit. ( )