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Ten Things We Did and Probably Shouldn't Have Sarah Mlynowski Books

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Ten Things We Did and Probably Shouldn't Have Sarah Mlynowski Books

I have to admit that I put off reading this novel for a while because I was worried that it would be all about illicit behavior and sex, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it really wasn’t. Yes, the parents are out of the picture due to some ingenious leg work by April and Vi, but it’s not just a tale about girls and boys gone wild. It’s really more so a story of love, betrayal, and coming of age in the real world. Growing up. And it’s a really cute tale that took hold of me from the very beginning and didn’t let go until I turned the final page. This was a fantastic read!

Now, while I don’t think some of the situations within the novel would actually come to pass, or are one hundred percent believable, I am able to easily overlook that because Mlynowski is such a superb story-teller! The situations the girls find themselves in are comical on the one hand, yet present real life morals on the other. And, the characterization within the novel is amazing! I was afraid that April would be a bit bratty and selfish after reading the first few pages, but I found that I really took sides with her and cared about her as the story unfolded; she’s a very well written character that evoked protective feelings from me as I read. I’d like to meet her in real life; I think she’d make a great friend, and I truly enjoyed reading about her rollercoaster of a ride junior year as she begins to figure herself out.

And yes, there is sex in this novel. But, it’s tastefully done. This YA novel doesn’t give the reader play-by-play erotic descriptions, but rather just brushes over the act, as it should. I was very thankful for this, especially as I’m noticing that many YA novels are now leaning towards more explicit descriptions of the act in their books, and that’s not something I want to read about in my novels, especially a YA book. I also loved that sex is not glorified as the end all be all of April and Vi’s lives, and that there are very real consequences involved. This made the story very endearing to me, as well as the superb characterization, hilarious situations, and fabulous morals. Mlynowski is an outstanding writer and I will definitely be reading more of her work!


Tags : Amazon.com: Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) (9780061701245): Sarah Mlynowski: Books,Sarah Mlynowski,Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have),HarperTeen,0061701246,FBA-|293263,Social Themes - Dating & Sex,Social Themes - Friendship,Social Themes - General,Conduct of life,Conduct of life;Juvenile fiction.,Connecticut,Interpersonal relations,Interpersonal relations;Juvenile fiction.,Self-reliance,Self-reliance;Juvenile fiction.,Children's Teenage fiction & true stories,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Fiction-Humorous,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 10-12 Ages 15+,TEEN'S FICTION - GENERAL,United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Coming of Age,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance Romantic Comedy,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Dating & Sex,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Friendship,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes General (see also headings under Family),YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes New Experience,Young Adult FictionRomance - Romantic Comedy,Young Adult FictionSocial Themes - New Experience,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Coming of Age,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance Romantic Comedy,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Dating & Sex,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Friendship,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes General (see also headings under Family),YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes New Experience,Young Adult FictionRomance - Romantic Comedy,Young Adult FictionSocial Themes - New Experience,Juvenile fiction,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Children's Teenage fiction & true stories

Ten Things We Did and Probably Shouldn't Have Sarah Mlynowski Books Reviews

April's father decides to take a job out of state. Naturally, she doesn't want leave her friends and boyfriend behind. So what's a girl to do? Well, she convinces her dad into letting her live with a friend. That's where the lies start. Her friends' mother is out on the road traveling, but April's dad doesn't know that. Then April and her friends buy hot tubs, have parties,...basically get into typical teenage trouble. Through all these mistakes and lies, sixteen year old April starts to understand who she is and what she needs. So maybe in the end....it was worth it!

My Take
So.....this book really stressed me out. What's funny about that statement is that I sure did a lot of things my parents didn't know about as a teenager, but this was pretty bold. Now that I'm a parent, I cringed thinking that some day, my little angel faces could do something like this too. So, I put the book down for a few days, opened my mind, and got back into the book. By that point I was about half way in and not only did I have a better frame of mind, but the story got better. I think I had to adjust to the writing flow of the book too. There is some jumping back and forth from past to present situations. April is, overall, a very sweet girl. I actually ended up feeling sorry for her and wanted to wrap her up in a mommy hug. The problem with that though (and lord knows I had to learn this myself) is that sometimes you have to learn the hard way. Could NOT stand Noah. Nuff said. However, Hudson..........dreamy! I think I would like a book just on Hudson and April! Overall, once I got past my own issues, it was funny, endearing, and enlightening.
[...]
I liked this book. I did. But watching kids make stupid choices in there life and tell lies to all the adults around them...No. I just can't handle it. Parents, please actually be aware of your kids. You aren't their friend. You are the parent. Be a parent. If this book tells you anything, it's that. Still, it's a well written book and the ending isn't half bad.
I actually liked the end of the book but that was about the only time I did.

April, Vi and friends aren't exactly bad characters but it was all just a little too out there. She doesn't want to move to Cleveland because of a boy so she winds up moving in with a friend who has no parental units whatsoever and getting a grand a month from her father at which point she had said friend start partying, drinking and having sex. I guess it's a teenagers dream come true but honestly I got bored with it pretty quickly. Also I think April is the only one in the book, including the reader, who can't see something's up with Noah right away.

I did like the kitten. There's also a misunderstood blackmailer, a misunderstood hit and run and a misunderstood hot guy. It's a party book basically kind of unbelievable at that. Too bad because both April and Vi have some real issues that are kind of addressed at the end I just wish the author would have found a way to maybe loose some of the silliness and have a little more depth. Honestly, my biggest problem with April isn't that I didn't like her it's that about midway through the book I no longer cared about her.
Although the main character had a lot of growing up to do, and it annoyed me at times, I enjoyed this book immensely. It made me laugh, explored family relationships, and had the right amount of devious-ness. There was also the right amount of tension between Vi and Dean, plus Hudson!!! My favorite scene was the chlamydia freakout. "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck chlamydia?" Ha! Living by yourself and your parents being so self-absorbed that they don't mind? Yeah right! Not to mention Hudson ' s actual job.
I have to admit that I put off reading this novel for a while because I was worried that it would be all about illicit behavior and sex, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it really wasn’t. Yes, the parents are out of the picture due to some ingenious leg work by April and Vi, but it’s not just a tale about girls and boys gone wild. It’s really more so a story of love, betrayal, and coming of age in the real world. Growing up. And it’s a really cute tale that took hold of me from the very beginning and didn’t let go until I turned the final page. This was a fantastic read!

Now, while I don’t think some of the situations within the novel would actually come to pass, or are one hundred percent believable, I am able to easily overlook that because Mlynowski is such a superb story-teller! The situations the girls find themselves in are comical on the one hand, yet present real life morals on the other. And, the characterization within the novel is amazing! I was afraid that April would be a bit bratty and selfish after reading the first few pages, but I found that I really took sides with her and cared about her as the story unfolded; she’s a very well written character that evoked protective feelings from me as I read. I’d like to meet her in real life; I think she’d make a great friend, and I truly enjoyed reading about her rollercoaster of a ride junior year as she begins to figure herself out.

And yes, there is sex in this novel. But, it’s tastefully done. This YA novel doesn’t give the reader play-by-play erotic descriptions, but rather just brushes over the act, as it should. I was very thankful for this, especially as I’m noticing that many YA novels are now leaning towards more explicit descriptions of the act in their books, and that’s not something I want to read about in my novels, especially a YA book. I also loved that sex is not glorified as the end all be all of April and Vi’s lives, and that there are very real consequences involved. This made the story very endearing to me, as well as the superb characterization, hilarious situations, and fabulous morals. Mlynowski is an outstanding writer and I will definitely be reading more of her work!