Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter - ADVISABLE

Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter, 379 pages.  Harlequin Teen, 2018 (2006).  $10.

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (mentions without descriptions); Violence: PG (fight, not descriptive)

BUYING ADVISORY:  MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Originally released in 2006. The book has been extensively reworked to be more modern and a bit more believable.

When she was five, Jade was injured in the car crash that killed her mother.  Afraid of getting close to anyone, Jade holds the entire world at arms length.  Her mortal enemy at school is the queen bee, Mercedes – who also happens to be the girl who lived with Jade and her dad for a couple of years like family when their parents were seriously dating.  After a scare one night, Jade wakes up and the world has turned upside down – all the pops are goths, with Jade as their queen, while preppy Mercedes lives in fear at school, and in Jade’s home as Jade’s dad and Mercedes mom are married. Can Jade let go of her anger and fear of rejection to make this new life a life worth living?

I think this is super fun to read.  I like Jade a lot and I even like Mercedes.  While there are lessons to be learned, there is no need to hand it to someone who needs to learn them – just let everyone read it for fun.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS