Love Match

Cassidy is perfect. Well she doesn't think she is, but her mom does. Mrs Kimball thinks she is a perfect match for James Van Horn. While her mother pressures Cassidy to meet "Jim", Cassidy is also struggling with her identity and her place in the world as she considers attending school at the exclusive Merrymount Academy, where James plays on the tennis team. Cassidy's own tennis skills are impressive, but they're hardly professional. Cassidy must decide if she wants the hard work it takes to be part of a winning team at Merrymount or if she is happy being a star at her own school where few players rival her abilities. Either way, Cassidy is guaranteed a love match one way or another, despite her efforts to reject her mothers arrangements. I really enjoyed this book. As an English teacher, I think my students would enjoy it too, if they gave it a chance. Cassidy is a typical girl. She is pretty, smart, and happy to just be accepted by her friends. Success comes easy for Cassidy, but not so easy that she wants to put herself in a stressful situation like playing for Merrymount Academy. Cassidy is also strong. When she thinks James is being particularly arrogant, Cassidy stands firm and rejects his condescending attitude. She quickly matures however, when she learns just how shy a tennis pro her mother's perfect match really is. Giving love a chance won't be so hard once Cassidy has decided it's a game she can play. Finally Cassidy is independent. Her mother's interference and her father's lighthearted suggestions only irritate Cassidy. While my students won't all be able to identify with a complete family or a wealthy family like Cassidy's, they will understand her frustration with mom and dad trying to make her into something she is not. When Cassidy finally stands up for herself, she learns a lot about love and acceptance. The book is tainted with 80s trends but they aren't overwhelming or distracting. Today's teens will accept Cassidy and her thoughts and feelings because they are familiar. Though her situation is very diffrent from many of the kids I teach, Cassidy will easily become a familiar friend. The author blends dialogue, plot elements and details effectively creating a story that draws the reader in. Boys won't very much care for this story, but the book will certainly appeal to readers with an appreciation for coming of age romances. The author also created a great friend in Mindy. Readers will appreciate Cassidy's relationship with Mindy, Mrs. Rice, her own mother(Mrs. Kimball), and father as well as the relationship she has with James. Overall, the author presents a fascinating character and quickly invites us into her fold. Book Talk Ideas: A little outdated, this might not make the greatest book talk. Readers can discuss sportsmanship, arranged marriages, blind dates, friendship, self image, and personal style, as well as independence.