Westminster Abby

"Westminster Abby" tells a relatively predictable story about a teenage girl with overprotective parents who longs to break free and become her own person. She leaves the confines of her home in New York City to explore the wondrous world of London and its environs. There, she befriends a girl who's the complete opposite of her. With the help of her new friend, Abby starts to break out of her shell and become the not-so-vanilla girl she always wanted to be. Micol Ostow does a nice job in describing the various locales in which her narrative takes place. This novel could serve as somewhat of a guide book for those traveling to London for the first time, as it gives realistic opinions of a first-time visitor's impression of Britain, except that it's intertwined in the story of a young girl who some teens will probably be able to identify with (a cheating ex-boyfriend, parents who expect perfect grades). Although I raced through the pages to see what adventures Abby would have next, there are no really exciting events in the book, or characters that really stand out -- although Abby is likeable enough. But it's a fun read for the beach or a plane ride. My major disappointment in the book is that the ending left me dissatisfied. I'm sure the author purposely ended the book where she did because she didn't think it was necessary to write much more about Abby after she turned into the new-and-improved Abby, but it still would've been nice to see how everything pans out for her after her transformation.

I started the S.A.S.S. series with this book about a year ago, and this one was actually a really nice start. It interests you and makes you want to go to London yourself and experience what Abby did. I think that if you want to start the series, you should go with this one, and then decide for yourself if you want to continue. Great and easy-to-read books! :)

Sixteen-year-old Abby Capshaw has always been the quiet girl. The one who spends her time studying, or hanging out with a couple of close friends, as opposed to the party girl who goes through guys like candy. Basically, she's miss boring, the kind of girl who may be sweet, but not very exciting. That is, until she finds herself chosen for the Students Across the Seven Seas Program, and is quickly in a plane leaving New York City, and heading for London, England, where she'll have the chance to spend a semester away from her over-bearing parents, living on her own in a marvelous new country. This is her chance to change herself from plain vanilla, into a wild hot fudge sundae, and she's not at all mistaken. London is home to funky pubs, splendid shopping, and a cute little bloke named Ian, who definitely likes Abby. But suddenly, as Abby begins trying to embrace this wild child side of her personality, she realizes that sometimes leaving behind the true you shows you the thing you know best - yourself. I've always adored the idea of studying abroad, especially in such a fabulous place as London, England, which is why I went wild when I came across Micol Ostow's WESTMINSTER ABBY on a recent trip to the bookstore. Abby is a cute character whose fabulous personality will appeal to readers of all ages. The wonderful people she meets in London are dabbed in throughout the book, and really make you feel as if you are right there along Abby and her pals as they explore the wonderful streets of London. Filled with e-mails between Abby and her parents, her best friend from home, and her ex-boyfriend, WESTMINSTER ABBY brings to life the idea of living on your own for the first time, and getting swept up into overseas romance. A wonderful quick read. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Abby isn't a wild child, she's sweet and plain. When she gets a boyfriend that her parents don't like, they enroll her in a foreign exchange program. Soon Abby is off to England. There she meets and befriends Zoe, a punk/goth girl with a crazy sense of humor. She also meets Ian, a charming Brit who makes her forget all about her bad experiences with boys. Abby is having the time of her life in England. Just when things are perfect, James, her ex, shows up inannounced from America. Will Abby go back to him, or stick to her morals? And will England change her forever, or will she go back to her old self when she returns home?