It's Not Me, it's You - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1407172492 ISBN 13: 9781407172491

Publisher: Scholastic, 2016

Synopsis

One high school girl's comedic examination of her dating past as told by the friends, family, and boys who were involved!

Avery Dennis is a high school senior and one of the most popular girls in her class. But a majorly public breakup with the guy she's been dating causes some disastrous waves. It is right before prom and Avery no longer has the perfect date. She runs the prom committee, how could she not show up with somebody?

Post-breakup, Avery gets to thinking about all of the guys that she has ever dated. How come none of those relationships ever worked out? Could it be her fault? Avery decides to investigate. In history class she's learning about this method of record-keeping called "oral history" and she has a report due. So Avery decides to go directly to the source. Avery tracks down all of the guys she's ever dated, and uses that information, along with thoughts from her friends, family, and teachers, to compile a total account of her dating history.

Avery discovers some surprises about herself and the guys she's spent time with -- just in time for prom night!

About this title

About the Author

Stephanie Kate Strohm is the author of It's Not Me, It's You; The Taming of the Drew; Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink; Confederates Don't Wear Couture and the upcoming Prince in Disguise (Fall 2017). She grew up on the Connecticut coast, where a steady diet of Little House on the Prairie turned her into a history nerd at an early age. After graduating with a joint major in theater and history from Middlebury College, she acted her way around the country, performing in more than 25 states.

Although she was born in New York, she currently lives in Chicago, and doesn't discriminate against any type of pizza. When she's not writing, she loves baking, walking her dog Lorelei, taking dance cardio classes too seriously, and playing board games with her husband.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up—Avery is blonde, popular, athletic, and smart. So is her boyfriend, who dumps her before their senior prom. Since Avery has always been the one to end relationships, she wants to interview her ex-boyfriends and figure out how such a horrible thing could have happened to her. She decides that this will also double as her oral history project, despite the teacher's protests that Avery's dating history doesn't meet the assignment requirements. The concept of soul-searching by looking at past partners has worked more successfully and humorously in other titles, such as John Green's An Abundance of Katherines. This story is formatted as an interview in which no one is asking actual questions. Avery flips between making editor's notes and joining in the conversation, resulting in a disjointed read and adding to the implausibility. The characters are largely stereotypes who don't receive much help from dated pop culture references. Readers might find it difficult to root for such a person. VERDICT Frothy and fun books deserve space on library shelves, but it might be tough to make room for this navel-gazing tale. Only for fans of Strohm or as an additional purchase.—Elissa Cooper, Helen Plum Memorial Library, Lombard, IL

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1407172492
• ISBN 13: 9781407172491
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288