Honk If You Hate Me

When she was six years old, Mona was hanging out with her father and her best friend at the local plant before it burned down and put hundreds of people out of work. Her father rescued the two kids and was branded a hero while Mona was stuck with the blame and the shame. It's been a decade since the accident, but the majority of the townspeople still think she's to blame. She carries that guilt with her every day, especially since her best friend's eyes were damaged in the fire and her father can no longer seem to hold a job. Punky, spunky Mona refuses to blend in. She is nothing if not bold and colorful. Even at five feet tall, it's easy to see or hear her coming, with her recently dyed blue (and later, purple) hair, her bright blue eyes, her everpresent skateboard, and her loud clothing. She always wears boots, with a new bumper sticker with a snarky saying wrapped around the left boot every day. After an outburst in a local burger joint that others interpret as a performance piece, Mona starts to do poetry raids. She goes to fast food places in and around her hometown, stands on tables, and spits out random thoughts and words of wisdom. Finally, she's known for something other than being that Monalisa Kent girl who burned down the plant. Meanwhile, her best friend is pulling away from her and palling around with a strange little boy, and memories of that horrible night are coming back to her. Between the interesting people at her local tattoo parlors and the stickers she slaps on her bedroom walls and her boot, Mona has plenty of things to talk about, but she's not sure anyone she cares about is listening to her any longer. The sense of mystery here - who DID burn down the plant? - will keep interested parties reading, but ultimately, they may wish for a little something more for Mona.

Monalisa Kent has had a strange childhood, one that has made everyone in town hate her and treat her like an outsider. But it's not Monalisa's fault that she accidentally burned down the futon factory, the one building that had tons of meaning and was considered the town's landscape and nucleus. She was just a kid, and it is what it is -- just an accident. Of course, no one in her town can understand this, or will find it in themselves to forgive her. Ten years later, Monalisa has changed (specifically, her hair color) and is all grown up. But the town still hasn't. This year just so happens to be the anniversary of the fall of the futon factory, and the events of the past are still on everyone's mind. You would think that after this much time has passed, people would forgive and forget! Monalisa is fine, though. She enjoys having purple hair, she likes her special hangout, and she doesn't mind having Glenn as a friend, since he is her only one. But soon Monalisa will see that in order for others to forget, she needs to stop hiding and help them get over it, even if it means having to deal with every single person in town. HONK IF YOU HATE ME is just as unique and funny as Mona's purple hair. Deborah Halverson creates a situation in which none of us want to be in but would rather stand on the sidelines and root for Mona. Read this one if you want to laugh your butt off! Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

I love this book. Monalisa is a great character, she's tough and sassy and smart, and yet she's poetic too...made me want to write poetry and shout it on the streets. It's wonderful. Everyone should read this. It's my new favorite! oh, and did you know? there's a twist... you'll love it.