Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time

Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time should be on every parent of a teenager as well as every teenager's reading list. Amber Kizer takes us into the head of a teenager -- for real! Today's American teenagers have more in front of them than ever before in our country's young history. Kizer delightfully tours us through a few critical months in Gert Garibaldi's 15-soon-to-be-16 life, keeping a steady stream of humor without losing that corner of reality. If you're a parent and want to know why your kids act the way they do; or are a teen and need to feel like someone else has been where you are sitting: you need to read this book. Oh and if you're reading it on the bus, be prepared for folks to stare when you laugh out loud. Be advised it deals with mature subject matter. That said, every teenager is already dealing with mature subjects. Can't wait for the next installment!

Reviewed by Tabytha Joy (age 15) For Reader Views (11/07) "One Butt Cheek at a Time" is a book referring to the phrase "Take it one step at a time." The philosophy is that not everyone has feet, and even those that do, some cannot use them. But everyone has a butt. Therefore, saying "Take it one butt cheek at a time" would apply to everyone. "One Butt Cheek at a Time" is about a girl who goes through life learning new things. Gert hates her name, but learns to live with it. Her best friend, Adam, is gay. They have been friends for many years. Well, Adam ends up with a boyfriend, and soon starts to neglect his friendship with Gert. Gert soon has to find a way to win her best friend back. She tries talking to Adam, but he doesn't seem to understand. Gert ends up meeting new friends when she gets assigned to a group project with her worst enemy, Jenny. Throughout the story, Gert learns new things about her body. As a class homework assignment, Gert has to look at her private parts, using a mirror. This is so that the female can recognize if something has changed. Well, Gert decides to name hers... Overall, I would say that this book was very interesting--in a good way, of course. I say this because I've learned some new things by reading "Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time." I really liked how the author chose to use phrases like "Holy-Mother-Of-Fake-Butter" instead of curse words. This book would be best for females fourteen and older.

It would have been nice to know I wasn't the only one struggling with issues as a teen. Gert tells it like only she can, and I had a lot of LOL moments and even a few ROFL. Great read. Highly recommend to any age.

This is a fantastic book for teens and adults alike! As someone who left the high school scene not TOO long ago, there were so many feelings about high school and being a girl in general that I connected with. Written with a keen wit and smart sense of humor, if you're like me, you won't be able to put this book down! I can't wait for the series to continue!

The fun definitely doesn't stop with the title. ONE BUTT CHEEK AT A TIME is hilarious from cover to cover. Gertrude "Gert" Garibaldi is fifteen. She was born when her only other sibling, a brother, was starting college. She asks herself everyday why she was blessed/cursed with ancient parents. From her out-of-touch parents to her Hello, Kitty bedspread and fuzzy pink phone, Gert feels she has more questions about her place in the social scene than there are answers. Adam is Gert's best friend. He has a crush on Tim, and Gert has a crush on Lucas, Tim's gorgeous twin brother. Unfortunately, Gert sees more of Tim when she acts as chaperone whenever Adam and Tim decide to venture out. Her heartthrob, Lucas, doesn't even seem to know she exists. Gert's social situation does improve when Stephen reveals his interest. Thanks to Stephen, Gert attends the homecoming dance, actually dances, and has her first kiss. Author Amber Kizer provides entertainment beginning on page one. Imagine a driver's ed teacher who uses a walker and needs a portable oxygen supply to survive the experience. Picture a principal who decides each student's weight should be recorded and graded on report cards. Add to that a group project with one partner who is Gert's sworn enemy and a sex ed teacher who has everyone exploring where no one has dared to go before. Have fun reading this one, but be careful when and where you read it. Laughing out loud is sometimes frowned upon. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"