Two-Way Street

Two-Way Street
by Lauren Barnholdt

TWO-WAY STREET by

Category: Contemporary

Age Recommendation: Grades 9+

Release Date: 6/26/07

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Reviewed by:

Rating: 5 Stars

Well-known for her first novel, REALITY CHICK, Lauren Barnholdt has a new offering worth checking out.

TWO-

WAY STREET is the perfect book if you are interested in learning about both sides in a couple's breakup.

Courtney and Jordan are about to begin a three day trip from their homes in Florida to their college orientation in

Boston. Usually this would be cause for excitement, but this trip is bound to be uncomfortable. The reason is

because,

two weeks ago, Jordan broke up with Courtney, supposedly because he met a girl on MySpace. Since

the plans for the

trip have already been made, Courtney's parents are insisting that she stick with those plans and

travel with her ex all the

way to Boston.

The characters and details of this novel are well-developed. Courtney is ultra-organized, schedule-oriented, and

germaphobic. Jordan is a relaxed, take-things-as-they-come, rap lover. The story reveals their quirky best friends

who

are always just a cell phone call away waiting to offer whatever support their own busy lives allow. The

private lives of

Jordan and Courtney’s parents offer their own unique brand of suspense to the plot. In addition, an

underlying thread of

the plot involves continued references to the use of MySpace, which is sure to be an attention-

grabber for teen readers.

Barnholdt created the book with alternating chapters. In Jordan's chapters he tells his version of the story before,

during,

and after the trip, and Courtney does the same in her chapters. This unique style allows readers to sort of

"read between

the lines" of the breakup. The characters are dealing with secrets they feel must not be revealed.

The resulting tension

and hard feelings created by the secrets will have readers rooting first for Jordan and then for

Courtney.

Find out more about TWO-WAY STREET and Lauren Barnholdt on MySpace at