July 10th, 2008
Book Review: Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling
I recently read an advance copy of Dream Girl, the new YA novel from Lauren Mechling, who is the co-author of the 10th Grade Social Climber novels. It’s about Claire Voyante, high school student, daughter of leftover hippie intellectual parents, and seer of visions, though the latter seems to be linked to a special cameo pendant given to her by her eccentric grandmother.
Dream Girl is very much a modern, urban twist on classic Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, with the possibility of smooches, but no actual sex (refreshing, even in a YA novel), colorful characters, and over-the-top action. Claire starts out friendless and alone at a public high school, where she’s been put because her parents were tired of paying tuition for her grade-free private school, and ends up solving a mystery and befriending Becca, who just happens to be the daughter of an incredibly wealthy condiment family.
While the story, and the people within it, could exist no other place than New York, the themes of friendship, finding your identity, and the endless battle between wanting to fit in, but needing to be yourself are universal. Truly, this book is entertaining enough that adults will enjoy it as much as their tween and teen-aged daughters.
Dream Girl will be released by Delacorte Press (a division of Random House) on July 22nd.
