aka YA Literature

Sunday, June 10, 2007

The Black Sheep

Title: The Black Sheep
Author: Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout
Rating: A+

Growing up in Manhattan with strict investment bankers for parents, Kendra Bishop's life has been completely dominated by rules and regulations. However, when her parents fire her beloved nanny, Kendra's breaks down and submits her dramatic life story to the producers of The Black Sheep, a new reality show that allows two teens to switch families for a month (think Trading Spouses for teens.)

Kendra is quickly swept away to California to her new family the Mulligans. Her new life now includes two hippie environmentalist parents, five siblings, a couple furry critters, and a pushy producer willing to do anything to up those ratings! With her new found independence, Kendra must shed her old life and develop her own set of rules to tackle her stardom, first love, and the chaotic world of reality TV.


The Good: Everything! This was a really excellent read. In fact, it kind of reminded me of Twilight (although it lacks the vampires and some of the drama.) It's basically just a funny little story about a girl trying to balance life outside her elements AND a budding new love.

The Bad: Although I find it hard to think of anything that was bad, I suppose if I was going to list something I would have liked improved, it would have to be the fact that so little was mentioned about Maya, the teen whom Kendra actually traded places with. The authors give bits and pieces, which make Maya look like a complete witch...but they never really give much information about why she's acting that way! Perhaps a good sequel would be the same story as told from Maya's point of view!

2 comments:

Sheryl said...

Great, another book TBR!

Sheryl said...

Okay, I just finished this. It took late nights to do it. I agree that it was enthralling! I didn't really see any similarities with Stephenie Meyer, except the good job at creating romantic tension. The resolution with her parents seemed a little abrupt, although I do tend to believe that parents would not ever want to be emancipated from their normal, if flawed, child. This was a nice balance of quick and fun with meaning and heart.