Ready or Not: An All-American Girl Novel

I got this book in the library and when I started reading it there I was laughing so hard. Everybody kept glaring at me but I wasn't really doing anything wrong. It was such a good book I couldn't help it. It kept me guessing and of course laughing. Meg Cabots is my all time favorite author. I have read most of her books. All American Girl, Ready or Not, and the Mediator series being my favorites. I highly recomend her books.

So many people think that without tragic consequences a book has no value..... but I laughed out loud many times throughout the book. It was a very enjoyable read. Too many books (and people!) are scared to address the reality that teens think about sex a lot. (Remember when certain organizations banned Judy Blume books?) I found this book to be refreshingly realistic with an appropriate level of detail. I loved the many discussions incorporated into the story - for example: parental surprise that not only underprivileged kids engage in premarital sex; why using multiple methods of birth control is a good idea; that "good" sex takes practice; that you need to wait for the right partner; that people you think are having sex may not be, and vice-versa; and that you absolutely need to be able to have meaningful discussions with your partner. I felt that Sam's reactions afterwards were very easy to relate to, and worked with the story. I would not consider this book appropriate for pre-teens, but it isn't intended for them anyway. High-schoolers will find it both a pleasantly light and informative read.

Samantha "Sam" Madison, the girl who is known across the country for saving the President's life from assassination, is now 16-years-old, a Junior in high school, and ready to stop being the goody-two-shoes girl next-door. Hence, she does something drastic: she dies her hair black. But that's not all. Sam is also working at Potomac Video, where she hangs out with protest radicals all day - okay, so just one protest radical, but still, it's someone. She's now taking a life drawing class with her boyfriend - who also happens to be the President's son - David, and she's discussing the possibility of having sex with her boyfriend. However, from day one, things don't go as planned. Who knew that life drawing meant that a naked guy would stand in front of you as you draw a picture of him? And why did Sam have to open her big mouth and admit that she had said yes to sex on national television, when she hadn't actually said yes - at least not yet? Obviously, Sam's life is about to get a bit crazier. I adored the book ALL-AMERICAN GIRL, and was first on line to purchase it when it was released a few years ago. Hence, you can imagine the joy I felt when I heard that READY OR NOT was being released. The growing up that Sam - and even her older sister, Lucy - have succumbed to is amazing. They are like two totally different people, and it's nice to see that they are finally getting along. The subject matter - as many people have commented on already - is probably more suitable for teenagers, just as PRINCESS IN TRAINING was, as both books deal with sex. A lot. Overall, this was a fabulous new look into the life of Sam Madison, that will be eaten up by readers of all ages. Great fun for all! Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

All-American Girl is absolutely a Must-Read! However, in this book 5'2, sophomore, teenage, and artistic girl Samantha Madsion goes through MANY changes! Like when she ditches her second art class at the Susan Boone Gallery (because of drawing in her German notebook and her mom putting her on probation to take a class of art), she actually sees the president of the United States! The president was walking in this Cookie store with his "security guard-men", so this Billy Joel fan guy near Sam takes this gun out of his coat and then...KABLAM!!! Technically, the "Kablam!" wasn't what happened at all. Instead, Sam saves the president by making the Billy Joel fan assasssinator shoot his gun in a different direction! Since the guy was heavy, he landed on top of Sam and she injuries her wrist. So these people come and take her to the hospital. And then Miss Samantha's life changes forever! By becoming a hero, totally popular and famous, becomes US Teen Ambassador, gets invited by her enemy's party, and even the president's son David falls in love with her! There are some big surprises and laughs and dramatic moments in this American book too! Sam's life goes good to bad then so on.... But, I had also liked when Meg Cabot dedicated this novel to the heroes of the September 11th attack! I was impressed, all right! So All-American Girl is one of the best Young Adult Books to get at the library or at the bookstore. It might have been really different than Cabot's Princess Diaries series, but this book was better, to be honest. I mean, she put some good things in it. Like things about art. The "listening and hearing" and the "seeing and imagining" parts was pretty creative, in fact. If you like books about love, semi-drama, laughs, surprises, and especially about America, then you'll this book.

Samantha Madison is what you would call an outcast. She's somewhat of a goth/artist. Her best friend, Catherine, wears clothes from like the 1800's, she's in love with her older sister Lucy's boyfriend, and her younger sister is a certified genius.When Lucy tells their parents that Samantha is charging people to have their picture drawn with their favorite celebrity her parents enroll her in art class, where she meets David, and is humiliated on her first day, which causes her to ditch her next art lesson, and end up being in the right place at the right time to save the president's life. Which immediatley throws Samantha into a whirlwind of popularity and press conferences. Not to mention that the president's son may be falling in love with her. How could someone's life go from so normal to so crazy?Meg Cabot has another hit with "All American Girl." Obviously she can write on any topic, and this one was original and refreshing compared to the other teen/young adult books out right now. This is a must read for all fans of "The Princess Diaries." A lot of teenage girls will be able to relate completely to Samantha.