Release Date: April 1, 2010Publisher: Flux Books
Pages: 240
Review Source: Library
Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
I was prepared to do just about anything to go from geek to Greek.
Some teenagers use drugs or sex to escape overbearing parents. I used books. All my life my mother has been hovering over me, afraid to let me experience ANYTHING. So I got really good grades, graduated from high school when I was sixteen, and escaped to a new life—my own life—at college.
To jump-start my social life, I decided to rush the Alphas, the most exclusive sorority on campus. And that's when things started to get complicated.
One of the Alphas invoked the Alpha Bet, a super-secret set of alphabetical tasks that have to be completed for a sister's bid to become active. Now, completing the tasks of the Alpha Bet has taken over my life. And one of the tasks involves deceiving my roommate and only real friend, Jentry.
Can you spell B-E-T-R-A-Y-A-L?
My Thoughts:
An enjoyable, quick chick flick in a book. Grace Kelly (for some reason it really bugged me that her name was Grace Kelly) is a 16 year old spazzy nerd turned sorority pledge as she enters college early. GK, as she is called by her roommate, is equal parts endearing and annoying. Sometimes I really wanted her to succeed, and other times I just wanted to smack her. And GK's Mom? I'm glad she buys a clue by midway the book, but whose Mom calls campus security because they're not answering their phone? Really? I felt some of the other characters were a little over the top as well. Sloane and the Zetas, for instance, seemed too evil/mean girl. I guess there might be people out there who act so outwardly terrible, but it seemed a bit far fetched. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable, easy read which I would recommend to those looking for a break from something heavier.
Rating:
Find The Alpha Bet by Stephanie Hale on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.ca
I did have a room mate whose mom did stuff like that. One day she happened to call as the ambulance was carting her off and the woman freaked out. 30 years later my room mate thanked me for saving her life - she had been having a great deal of breathing trouble and almost died. She was mad at the time. But I find in a lot of YA the parents are clueless. The dad in Twilight is clueless and doesn't want to know. There is a boy sleeping in your daughter's bedroom every night for two years and you don't know? I don't care how fast the kid can hide. As a book professional maybe you know why this is.
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Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
Wow, that's an insane story! It's true, there are a lot of clueless and/or absent parents in YA. The same Twilight-like scenario is true of Grace's parents in 'Shiver'. It's kind of bizarre, and I'm not sure where it comes from except to say that many teens may wish to have that amount of freedom and privacy? Interesting to think about. Anyway, thanks so much for the comment, and I am going to go check out your blog now. =)
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