Bittersweet Sixteen

BITTERSWEET SIXTEEN by Carrie Karasyov & Jill Kargman
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 7/1/06
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
Rating: 4 Stars

Fifteen-year-old Laura Finnegan can't quite decide if she's blessed or cursed to be able to attend Tate Academy, the top
private all-girls school in New York. Since her parents are both professors at NYU, they definitely can't afford the
twenty-thousand-dollar a year tuition, so she's there on a scholarship. Laura certainly appreciates the opportunity, but there
are times that the over-the-top behavior of her fellow students drives her crazy. Laura's passion is design, and she's a whiz
with a sewing machine. Thankfully, her group of closest friends--best friend Whitney, Ava, and Kaitlin--are totally impressed
with her fashion sense.

Whitney Blake, Laura's greatest friend, also happens to be the most popular girl at Tate Academy--and one of the richest.
They have the perfect type of friendship; Laura never takes advantage of her friend's unlimited spending limit, and Whitney
gives her friend the things she'd otherwise never get, like hand-me-down fashion designer clothes, trips with her on family
vacations, and a guaranteed spot on the A-list. Things get a little crazy, though, when Sophie Mitchum moves from California
to New York.

Sophie and Whitney circle each other like sharks on that first day, both knowing that they hold a special position in Tate
Academy's pyramid of popularity. Whitney has always been Queen Bee, and instantly feels threatened by Sophie's sudden
intrusion. Sophie held the same title back in California, and is determined not to ruin her chances on popularity at this new
school. What follows is a short period of wariness that leads to mutual respect. That is, until Whitney learns that Sophie has
scheduled her sweet sixteen blowout party on her birthday. It seems the girls share the same day, and things will never be the
same at Tate Academy.

As the girls decide that maybe the situation can be salvaged by holding joint birthday parties (which just happened to be
Laura's idea), things go from bad to worse. Laura finds herself in the middle of the mother of all wars when Whitney and
Sophie can't work out their differences. Suddenly, designer handbags are flying, students are being used as pawns, boys are
in the middle of a tug-of-war, and no one is getting the short end of the stick more than Laura. Whitney, her best friend
forever, is causing more pain than a trip to the dentist, and Sophie, the girl she thought was her new friend, isn't helping.

BITTERSWEET SIXTEEN is a funny, interesting look into the world of money, power, and popularity of teen girls who have
more credit cards than they know what to do with. Definitely an entertaining read, as Laura must find out what having real
friends is all about.