24 Girls in 7 Days by Alex Bradley
ISBN: 0-525-47369-6
Bradley. A. (2005). 24 girls in 7 days. New York: Dutton Books.
Plot Summary
Jack is a senior in high school and does not have a date to prom. He finally musters up courage to ask the girl he’s been crushing on for years. When she accepts, then declines, Jack walks away defeated. His two best friends have significant others, why doesn’t he? Then, he starts receiving odd phone calls and emails about some personal dating ad. Natalie and Percy decided to take matters into their own hands and fix dates for him. The new goal is for Jack to date 24 girls in 7 days, and choose one to take to prom. Between flashing girls, bossy dates, and jumping off roofs, Jack isn’t sure this dating thing is going to work. He also keeps getting great emails from a fancy pants. Who is this girl, because she seems perfect? As prom creeps ever closer, Jack wonders who he will choose, who fancy pants is, and how prom will turn out. Along the way, he might learn that love and friendship are blurred, and the one for him might not be someone expected.
Critical Evaluation
An interesting premise that does not quite live up to expectations. The girls lining up to date Jack are all slightly oddball characters fulfilling requisite teen stereotypes. None are portrayed in such a way as to make them believable or serious contenders for Jack’s prom date. However, their quirkiness and interactions with Jack make for some fun laughs in book that sometimes takes itself too seriously. Jack himself could come off as a geeky loser or cocky player trying to get a date, but instead is a simply nice guy looking for an equally nice girl. An expected best friend romance begins, sure to delight, but it is not happily ever after. A nice twist on an unrealistic plot that so many books fall into. The parental figures are all positive, providing support for their children, and acting as parents. A health emergency causes all the teens to reevaluate what is important in their lives, and question the worthiness of prom speed dating. The unlikely ending is sweet, but mushily so, with perhaps some sarcastic thoughts. In the end, Jack does tentatively decide on a girl, but the choice is one where hands are thrown in the air and thoughts are along the line of ‘what was the point of that?”
Reader’s Annotation
Jack needs a date to prom, and quickly. His best friends secretly come up with a harebrained idea—an online classified ad for their school newspaper.
About the Author
Alex Bradley is a pseudonym for Jeremy Jackson. While he writes under his real name, both his young adult novels use the Bradley name. Jackson is a versatile author, writing fiction for young adults, adult novels, three cookbooks, and a memoir. His cookbook recipes have appeared in various newspapers and magazines, and The Cornbread Book was nominated for a James Beard Award, a cooking award. Jackson’s first novel, Life at These Speeds was selected as a Barnes & Noble’s Discover Great New Writers book.
Jeremy Jackson was born in Ohio, grew up in Missouri, and currently lives in Iowa. Except for attending Vassar in New York, Jackson is a lifelong Midwesterner. His memoir concentrates on his 11th year of life growing up on a farm, and this changes he underwent. His family had cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, ducks, and a pig and pony. He has a sister, several years older, and was close to her growing up. After graduating from Vassar, Jackson wrote part-time, and then returned to teach English at his alma mater. After teaching two years, Jackson moved back to Iowa and began writing full-time.
Genre
Humor/Social Issues
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking
Meet the lovely ladies Jack is going to date this week.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 6th grade and up
Challenge Issues
I do not foresee any challenges, but I would have my Defense File ready if there was an issue.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
Instead of the girl dating different guys for prom, this was a guy trying to find a prom date. I’d seen the book before, and finally decided to try it.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Jackson, J. (2013). Jeremy jackson: In his own words. HarperCollinsPublisher. Retrieved from http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/24523/Jeremy_Jackson/index.aspx?authorID=24523
Jeremy Jackson (author). (2013, January 24). Retrieved April 2, 2013 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Jackson_%28author%29
ISBN: 0-525-47369-6
Bradley. A. (2005). 24 girls in 7 days. New York: Dutton Books.
Plot Summary
Jack is a senior in high school and does not have a date to prom. He finally musters up courage to ask the girl he’s been crushing on for years. When she accepts, then declines, Jack walks away defeated. His two best friends have significant others, why doesn’t he? Then, he starts receiving odd phone calls and emails about some personal dating ad. Natalie and Percy decided to take matters into their own hands and fix dates for him. The new goal is for Jack to date 24 girls in 7 days, and choose one to take to prom. Between flashing girls, bossy dates, and jumping off roofs, Jack isn’t sure this dating thing is going to work. He also keeps getting great emails from a fancy pants. Who is this girl, because she seems perfect? As prom creeps ever closer, Jack wonders who he will choose, who fancy pants is, and how prom will turn out. Along the way, he might learn that love and friendship are blurred, and the one for him might not be someone expected.
Critical Evaluation
An interesting premise that does not quite live up to expectations. The girls lining up to date Jack are all slightly oddball characters fulfilling requisite teen stereotypes. None are portrayed in such a way as to make them believable or serious contenders for Jack’s prom date. However, their quirkiness and interactions with Jack make for some fun laughs in book that sometimes takes itself too seriously. Jack himself could come off as a geeky loser or cocky player trying to get a date, but instead is a simply nice guy looking for an equally nice girl. An expected best friend romance begins, sure to delight, but it is not happily ever after. A nice twist on an unrealistic plot that so many books fall into. The parental figures are all positive, providing support for their children, and acting as parents. A health emergency causes all the teens to reevaluate what is important in their lives, and question the worthiness of prom speed dating. The unlikely ending is sweet, but mushily so, with perhaps some sarcastic thoughts. In the end, Jack does tentatively decide on a girl, but the choice is one where hands are thrown in the air and thoughts are along the line of ‘what was the point of that?”
Reader’s Annotation
Jack needs a date to prom, and quickly. His best friends secretly come up with a harebrained idea—an online classified ad for their school newspaper.
About the Author
Alex Bradley is a pseudonym for Jeremy Jackson. While he writes under his real name, both his young adult novels use the Bradley name. Jackson is a versatile author, writing fiction for young adults, adult novels, three cookbooks, and a memoir. His cookbook recipes have appeared in various newspapers and magazines, and The Cornbread Book was nominated for a James Beard Award, a cooking award. Jackson’s first novel, Life at These Speeds was selected as a Barnes & Noble’s Discover Great New Writers book.
Jeremy Jackson was born in Ohio, grew up in Missouri, and currently lives in Iowa. Except for attending Vassar in New York, Jackson is a lifelong Midwesterner. His memoir concentrates on his 11th year of life growing up on a farm, and this changes he underwent. His family had cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, ducks, and a pig and pony. He has a sister, several years older, and was close to her growing up. After graduating from Vassar, Jackson wrote part-time, and then returned to teach English at his alma mater. After teaching two years, Jackson moved back to Iowa and began writing full-time.
Genre
Humor/Social Issues
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking
Meet the lovely ladies Jack is going to date this week.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 5th grade
IL: 6th grade and up
Challenge Issues
I do not foresee any challenges, but I would have my Defense File ready if there was an issue.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
Instead of the girl dating different guys for prom, this was a guy trying to find a prom date. I’d seen the book before, and finally decided to try it.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Jackson, J. (2013). Jeremy jackson: In his own words. HarperCollinsPublisher. Retrieved from http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/24523/Jeremy_Jackson/index.aspx?authorID=24523
Jeremy Jackson (author). (2013, January 24). Retrieved April 2, 2013 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Jackson_%28author%29
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