Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Book Review - He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not


He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: My Boyfriend Is a Monster

By: Robin Mayhall
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Publication Date: January 2013
ISBN: 978-0761385486
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: February 2013

Serena Stevens was totally disgusted that she had to transfer to a podunk town from San Antonio just a few weeks into her junior year. Her best friend, Consuela, tried to console her about all the dating possibilities, but dating guys who wore cowboy hats? Ugh!!! Consuela was a "dating whirlwind," and Serena was a bit more reserved. Looked like Rojo High, a school big on football, wasn't exactly going to be big time fun, but she and Consuela could Skype. At the Friday night game she spotted Cameron Jacobs, a hot guy, who blew her off claiming he "mostly studies at home." It didn't look like her dating prospects in Rojo were going to be all that promising. Like not at all.

Lance Hyland, the star quarterback, unexpectedly peeked over her shoulder when Serena got a note from the guidance counselor. "Aw, man ... called to Gary Barry's office already?" He was just kidding and offered to show her the way AND asked her out! Cam, who could easily be her crush was going to be her study partner. Things hadn't started out all that well at Rojo, but were looking up. To think she was going out on a date with a "star football player" would blow Consuela away.

Her meeting with Gary Barry went over all the standard new student stuff, but when she went to leave he offered up one bit of advice. "Be careful around Lance Hyland." What on earth was the guy talking about? Serena didn't have time to think about it because she had to study with Cam. They were going to work on "Jekyll & Hyde" and "list all the metaphors and similes" in one section. She wanted to study with Cam again, but there was her date. Lance became really crazy when he heard about Cam, calling him "a weakling, a freak." And then he slammed his fist into her locker. Just what kind of monster was she dating? Was it a simple case of jealously or something much more insidious?

Serena finds herself in a dating dilemma when her boyfriend turns out to be w-e-i-r-d. Things get really crazy at Rojo when two of the cheerleaders end up missing. Naturally, Serena starts to wonder if Lance is to blame for the disappearance. The storyline is more realistic than a few in the series, but nonetheless, there is still a monstrous personality lurking behind Lance's cool guy facade. The story moves right along, a facet that makes it perfect for young readers, especially reluctant ones. The black and white panels are detailed and do include a few pages of the "Jekyll and Hyde" story. If you have a youngster who likes their reading a bit on the freaky side, this is one series you may wish to consider.

Quill says: This series is an excellent choice for young people who enjoy quick, short, monstrous reads!





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