THE QUEEN OF COOL by Cecil Castellucci
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 2/14/06
Publisher: Candlewick
Reviewed by: Dena Landon
Rating: 5 Stars
Libby Brin is the popular girl. She has the right friends, the right clothes, and goes to all the right parties. Where she leads,
the school follows, from "pencil day" to "funny walk day." But she's hiding a deep, dark secret. She's bored. No matter
what she does, she doesn't feel alive. Which might explain the temporary insanity that causes her to sign up for an
internship...at the zoo. When she's assigned to a team with two of the biggest losers in school she worries that her life as the
Queen of Cool might be over.
In this light-hearted and funny novel, Castelluci explores typical teenage themes--finding yourself, and discovering what true
friendship means--in her usual frank and honest style. Her prose is sparse, with no extra words or long descriptions, and
short chapters make for a quick read. She unflinchingly portrays the reality of teenage life, from drinking at parties, to making
out with boys, with a non-judgemental attitude that lets the reader draw their own conclusions about Libby's actions.
Readers will be able to relate to Libby's struggles to feel like she belongs as she's changing and learning new things about
herself, and growing away from friends she's had her whole life.
Recommended, especially for older, reluctant teen readers.
The Queen of Cool
by Cecil Castellucci