Reading and Writing Instruction for Intermediate and Advanced Learners, Spring, 2009, Hickory, NC

The book we are reading, It's a Mall World After All, is a fun, very entertaining read for me. As I read this book, it's like talking to my 16 year daugter about her life (LOL). Charlotte is the main character, who is tall, pretty and has red hair. She has a best friend,Brianna, whom right now the two of them are having "trust issues". Charlotte thinks Brianna'a boyfriend is a total jerk and she is out to prove it...even if it means "selling her soul to the devil", as she puts it in the book. In the beginning of the book I thought Charlotte was not going to get involved with any boys at her high school, but after the party at the club, and all the close encounters she and Colton experienced, I hope they can maintain a relationship through all of their schemes. I think adolescents would enjoy reading this book also. They would be able to relate and make connections with it.

As I read your post, I did remind me of things that we did in middle and high school! I considered reading this book! It sounds like it would be a book that you just could not put down once you got past the first few chapters!

I am in love with this book Toni! It reminds me so much of my time in high school! The interactions that happen between Charlotte and Brianna are the typical interactions that occur during high school. The great thing about this book are the constant situations that Charlotte is getting herself into. She is constantly embarrassing herself and doing things that embarrass her. How many of you experienced something that was extremely embarrassing in high school??

Charlotte is having a tough time because she is worried about how she should act to be a good friend to Brianna and stand up for what she believes to be the right thing. She already knows that Bryant is hiding hanging out with another girl. Colton has convinced her that Bryant is only hanging out with another girl to help improve his chances of getting a good scholarship for college since her dad is on the Board of Trustees. However, this is a struggle for Charlotte because she wants to let her friend know but then she will have to tell her that she found out by spying on him after Brianna had asked her to trust him and not get involved anymore. Also, Charlotte has made a deal with Colton to help the kids as long as she keeps the secret about Bryant and the other girl. I think although Charlotte is helping kids in a big way by swinging the deal with Colton she is not being a very good best friend by keeping what she knows a secret from Brianna.

Charlotte is having a tough time because she is worried about how she should act to be a good friend to Brianna and stand up for what she believes to be the right thing. She already knows that Bryant is hiding hanging out with another girl. Colton has convinced her that Bryant is only hanging out with another girl to help improve his chances of getting a good scholarship for college since her dad is on the Board of Trustees. However, this is a struggle for Charlotte because she wants to let her friend know but then she will have to tell her that she found out by spying on him after Brianna had asked her to trust him and not get involved anymore. Also, Charlotte has made a deal with Colton to help the kids as long as she keeps the secret about Bryant and the other girl. I think although Charlotte is helping kids in a big way by swinging the deal with Colton she is not being a very good best friend by keeping what she knows a secret from Brianna.

I love reading this book. Once you start reading it it's hard to stop. I finally had to stop after a long read. I think this book would be awesome for middle and high school students. I would have loved to read this book when I was younger. Instead we had to read only historical books that I hated. Charlotte, the main character, was faced with many moral questions/issues in her daily life. She was dealing with honesty (whether or not she should spy on her best friend's boyfriend). Though her friends tell her that she needs to get a chip off her shoulder her instincts are almost dead on. I definitely can't wait to finish the book and would consider reading something else from this author.

Charlotte & Bryant have a very strange relationship. It's actually Charlotte who has issues with Bryant. She's had issues with him since elementary school. In elementary school, Charlotte was tall, thin, wore eye glasses, and was some what dorky looking. Bryant, just like now, today, was a jock and a popular kid. According to Charlotte, Bryant did did horrible things to her, played awful tricks on her and just was very mean, ugly and maniplatiave. Just like now, Charlotte thinks Bryant is the same kid he was in elementary school, and can't be trusted. Therefore, it doesn't matter if he's Brianna'a boyfriend, Charlotte still does not trust him or accept his lame apology. There is a strain on Charlotte and Brianna's friendship. It is changing (not for the better), and I think both girls know it. I think Charlotte's moral decision is...Do I still have a best friend? Can she be trusted? Charlotte feels strongly that Bryant is NO-GOOD, but she isn't sure that she wants to totally try to expose him to Brianna. So, I think she'll lay low for a little while to see where the cards land, and she may or may not decide to pick them up again...continue to be friends with Brianna. We'll see!

I loved reading this book. I am excited to finally be able to discuss the ending with the rest of the group. Who knew that reading ahead would be a bad thing? I think it would be interesting to see high schoolers reaction to this book. I love hearing your daughters insight Toni it helps see practical application and discussion rather than just what we predict the students would say. I am glad that Charlotte and Colton are together. Although it is hard for Brianna I am glad she finally knows the truth about Bryant. I love she is tearing the sweater she made him apart...you take out that anger girl. I love the author twisted the story and had Colton tell. I also love the fact that the kids think it is cool Santa got in a fight...how hillarious. I am glad that Charlotte can finally enjoy herself again and not have to stress about knowing the secret and hiding information from her friend.

I just think the fight between Colton and Bryant was hilarious. I could just imagine those kids rooting on "Santa." I know my kids would be hoopin and hollerin. What a sight to see (Santa getting in a fight with a stranger). I was so excited to see that Charlotte was so cool about knowing she was right about Bryant all along. She didn't rub it in. I think she grew so much throughout the book and gained her confidence. I'm also thrilled that Charlotte and Colton finally became a couple. There was such a connection all throughout the book. I would definitely tell middle and high school students about this book. It was such a clean book. There wasn't any content in the book that younger kids couldn't handle.

Wow! This book cracked me up. I was able to relate to everyone of the characters in the book. I was amazed to find that there were characters that I could remember from high school. I love that Charlotte is clumsy. She was constantly causing some kind of scene and trying to make up for the fact that she looked somewhat stupid. I also loved that she was an overcomer. She turned from ugly duckling to beautiful swam and had the courage to face her peers. :) I throughly enjoyed reading this book and will keep it on my shelf :)