Prom Kings and Drama Queens

List-making Emily Bennett wishes she could rock South Florida the way Hurricane Emily did two years prior. The storm is set in motion when ex-best friends Brandy and Randy start an I Hate Emily Club, the summer after eighth grade. As Emily trudges forward over the warm, tropical waters of freshman and sophomore year, the winds pick up as she decides she wants to be more than just a feature writer for the school paper. She has her eye set on the position of editor-in-chief. Emily jumps from a Category Two directly to a Category Four Hurricane when she is swept away by hottie boy next door, Brian. A dream come true for sure, until her newspaper story on alternative proms--that is sure to land her the editor in chief position for senior year--coincides with the school's junior prom where she is supposed to be Brian's date. Surely he'll give up the Hummer limo, fancy tuxedo and all that hoopla to go to the alternative prom, so long as he can be with her, right? Just as the hurricane hits land, Emily discovers her inner prom queen when she realizes that taking the world by storm has more to do with doing good than being liked. Dorian Cirrone's writing is fast-paced and will make you laugh out loud, all the while rooting for Emily to find her crown. This is a must-read book for all middle school girls! --Reviewed By Kerry O'Malley Cerra

Veni, vidi...Or in English, I came, I saw, I read Prom Kings and Drama Queens. And it was fantastic. To tell the truth, I had my doubts about this book when I first saw it just because of the title. I thought it was going to be another one of those girly and overdramatic stories. But I was pleasantly surprised. This is the story of Emily Bennet, a junior in high school who aspires to be the editor in chief of her school newspaper and the girlfriend of the Boy Next Door and to do something great. The chapter titles as newspaper headlines about Hurricane Emily are cute and help compare Emily's life with a natural storm, meaning sometimes she knows where she's going and sometimes things are just unpredictable. I think the ending was a bit too cutesy and perfect for my taste, but it does wrap the story up well as the novel leaves Emily with a sense of self-accomplishment. I would recommend this book for younger teens and middle-schoolers. I found this book an easy and short read, so I don't think older teens would get to much into it. [...]

Dorian Cirrone has woven together some fascinating elements in her new novel. Emily Bennett is a list making, note taking girl reporter who is tired of watching life happen to other people. Before you can say, "Be careful what you wish for" she finds herself swept away by one of the hottest boys in school, acting as a go between for senior citizens and bucking the system to save a tree and reform the prom. And now, she just might put on a crazy costume and dance in public. How did this happen? Cirrone does a great job of showing that making the smallest changes can affect your whole life...and maybe the world. Emily is a great character and the story is funny, warm and true to life.

Emily Bennet has all kinds of goals for her junior year of high school. She wants to beat out obnoxious Daniel Cummings for editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. She wants Brian Harrington, the gorgeous boy next door (literally), to notice her. She wants revenge on the Mean Girls who ditched her in eighth grade. And, after reading a newspaper headline about a hurricane that shares her name, she wants "Emily Rocks South Florida" to describe her own life. Of course, nothing is that simple, and on the way to achieving her goals, she ends up in handcuffs while chasing down a headline. She facilitates a secret romance between a boat captain and a dancing grandmother. She starts to realize that there's more to Daniel, the rival she's been so intent on beating, than she knew. And she ends up becoming passionate about a good deed she never intended to do. Despite some overly cutesy elements (her snobby ex-friends are twins named Brandy and Randy), this is a light, fun read that keeps getting better as it continues. Ms. Cirrone keeps the book from getting weighted down with high school stereotypes and adds some interest with a subplot about Brian's grandmother and the captain of the junior class cruise. In the end, Emily figures out how to rock not by beating someone at something or by getting revenge, but by doing something good and loving it. In a world driven by competition, that's a message we could all use. Reviewed by: Katie Hayes

Emily Bennet wants to take the world by storm. She came to this decision after seeing a hurricane with her name make the headlines between her eighth and ninth grade years. She liked seeing her name in print, and she wanted to rock in her own way. Oh, she doesn't want to be as destructive as the hurricane, but she wants to make an impact. She wants to rock. Now, three years later, she just might get her chance. Right from the start, Emily tells readers that "[j]unior year was supposed to be all about Brian Harrington, the prom, and becoming editor in chief of the Crestview Courier." Brian, a basketball player, is literally the boy next door. Unfortunately, his most recent girlfriend is Emily's ex-best friend. Brandy and Randy Clausen were Emily's best friends until the summer before eighth grade, when they suddenly decided Emily wasn't cool any longer. They've sent disapproving looks and snide remarks her way ever since. Luckily, Emily found encouragement in Ms. Keenan, the journalism teacher, and friendship in Lindsay, a classmate whose dedication to the piano matches Emily's dedication to the school newspaper. When she attempts to out-scoop fellow staff reporter Daniel Cummings and do an investigative report - okay, it was kind of an excuse to see what her crush and his teammates were doing - things don't go according to plan. Happily, Emily soon finds herself getting closer to Brian while playing courier for Brian's lively grandmother Lily and her would-be suitor, a lonely cruise captain. Brian is all that she ever hoped for - but what if she sets her sights higher? In her efforts to become co-editor of the paper, Emily must write a piece on the upcoming prom with Daniel. She is surprised to find depth in the boy while they perform community service at a local nursing home. The two come up with a plan that not only combines their two current "jobs" but also promotes compassion and individuality rather than wealth and popularity. As a result of this, Emily finally learns how to rock. Prom Kings and Drama Queens by Dorian Cirrone is a delightful dramedy. Every chapter has a headline worthy of both hurricane and human. (Examples include "Emily Poses Little Threat" and "Emily Changes Course.") Cirrone allows her protagonist to have levity throughout the book and integrity with the going gets tough. Give this book to amateur reporters, reluctant readers, and romantic comedy fans. With journalistic endeavors, romantic mishaps, and a catchy title, Prom Kings and Drama Queens will be appreciated by young adults and the young-at-heart. Recommended. I also recommend Dorian's previous novel, Dancing in Red Shoes Can Kill You, to dancers and dance aficionados.