The Blonde of the Joke
by Bennett Madison

    THE BLONDE OF THE JOKE by Bennett Madison
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  8/25/09
    Publisher:  HarperTeen
    Reviewed by:  Breanna F.
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Valentina has had friends throughout the years. But they all just seem to fade out and then she's left by herself again.
    She spends her time at the mall, hoping that one day something there will change her life. And what do you know, it
    actually happens.

    While she's browsing the racks at the Wet Seal, Francie Knight taps on her shoulder. Francie is a very provocative
    girl in Val's class who has been seen around campus wearing the "whore's raincoat."  

    Apparently, Francie is a major shoplifter, and soon Val is, too. All the girls ever do is hang out at the mall shoplifting
    basically whatever they can get their hands on in search of the "Holy Grail" - the one most amazing thing that they have
    ever seen in their life.

    When Val isn't with Francie, she's worrying about her older brother, Jesse, who is mysteriously dying. Val has never
    really understood why he is, but apparently it's going to happen someday soon. She's also starting to mess around a
    bit (behind Francie's back) with the very attractive boy that the girls met at the mall one day.

    Francie also deals with her own problems involving her basically psychotic mother, who randomly disappears, and
    when Francie finds her she'll end up staying with her grandmother for a week or so while her mom checks herself into
    the hospital.

    Soon Val gets a little tired of Francie's ways and decides she needs to do something. But how drastic will that
    something be?

    THE BLONDE OF THE JOKE is one of those books that's kind of hard to summarize, but I definitely loved it.
    Francie's character was so out there, and soon Val's character was, too.  I also loved the ending of the story, which
    wasn't too abrupt or unfinished.

    All in all, this is a pretty great book. I definitely want to read something else by Bennett Madison now!