Summary
Summary
When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat on you online ). She sets out to complete grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy's cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow. Lindsey Leavitt perfectly pairs heartfelt family moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and a little bit of romance in this delightful contemporary novel.
Author Notes
LINDSEY LEAVITT is a former elementary school teacher and present-day writer/mom to three (mostly) adorable little girls. She is married to her high-school lab partner and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is also the author of Sean Griswold's Head and the Princess for Hire series. www.lindseyleavitt.com
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-While the premise of Going Vintage appears to be the usual run-of-the-mill romantic fodder-girl is wildly in love with her boyfriend, boy cheats on girl, girl seeks to find herself-it becomes evident from the opening chapter that Leavitt is exploring new romantic territory here. When Mallory discovers that Jeremy has been cheating on her with "Bubbleyum," a girl he is "married" to in a virtual simulation game, she declares him to be a "tool" and swears off all 21st-century technology. She finds a list her grandmother made during her junior year of high school, in 1962, to guide a personal journey of self-discovery. How hard could it be to sew a homecoming dress, "find a steady," and become Pep Club secretary? Since Mallory can't sew, recently dumped her boyfriend, and doesn't even know what a Pep Club is, she ropes her sister and grandmother into helping her complete the list. Filled with humor and style, this title will capture teens' attention from the first page to the last. The characters are relatable, as are Mallory's situations. It's refreshing that the protagonist's resolve not to let Jeremy back into her life does not waiver and that she doesn't jump into another relationship to get over the old one. A quick, enjoyable read and an enchanting addition to the chick-lit genre.-Tammy Turner, Centennial High School, Frisco, TX (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
A devoted list maker, 16-year-old Mallory is determined to transform her life when she finds out her boyfriend, Jeremy, has a cybergirlfriend who goes by the name "BubbleYum." As Mallory's relationship and reputation fall apart publicly on "Friendspace," she declares she's "Done with computers and phones... and fake fakeness. I'm talking complete isolation." She swears off technology to focus on a list her grandmother made in 1962 when she was 16; Mallory vows to run for pep squad secretary, host a fancy dinner, sew a homecoming dress, find a "steady," and do something dangerous. Mallory's high-spirited and hilarious younger sister, Ginnie, supports her, as does her ex's cute, offbeat cousin Oliver, and sparks fly as they build a pep club homecoming float. In the meantime, Mallory's grandmother, who has just moved into a senior residence, seems distracted and uninterested in revisiting the past-and she may have her reasons. With perceptiveness and several fun plot twists, Leavitt's (Sean Griswold's Head) nuanced book is filled with quirky characters that readers will root for and believe in. Ages 12-up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary Agency. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Sixteen-year-old Mallory is shocked to learn that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is emotionally cheating on her with a "cyber wife." After things get ugly on Friendspace (the book's Facebook equivalent), Mallory decides to go on a technology fast, convinced that modern conveniences are responsible for her misery. A to-do list her grandmother made at age sixteen, in 1962, provides the perfect inspiration for a simpler life, with such items as "Run for pep squad secretary," "Sew a dress for homecoming," and "Find a steady." So Mallory starts a school pep club with the help of Jeremy's cousin, Oliver; takes a sewing lesson; and tries to find a boyfriend (for her sister), all without using the internet or her cell phone. As Mallory checks off list items -- with surprising and often hilarious results -- and navigates some family dramas, she realizes that she's actually an interesting person apart from Jeremy. And as she gets to know Oliver, she discovers that he thinks so, too. Mallory's experiences will help readers cope with their own breakups and undoubtedly make them think about their own tethers to smartphones and social media. But the novel's most important -- and comforting -- lesson is that sometimes being a teenager sucks, no matter what decade you live in. As Mallory's grandmother tells her, "Adolescence is the same tragedy being performed again and again. The only things that change are the stage props." rachel l. smith (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
After discovering her boyfriend has a serious online relationship with another girl, Mallory very publicly dumps him on his social media site. She complicates the situation by deciding to try to fulfill a to-do list her grandmother crafted at the beginning of her junior year of high school in 1962, a time Mallory thinks must have been much simpler than today. That means giving up the 21st-century technology she's accustomed to relying on--going vintage--and also becoming secretary of the pep club (that doesn't exist), sewing a dress for homecoming (she doesn't sew) and finding a steady boyfriend, among other challenges. She's aided by her loyal younger sister, Ginnie, and the growing affection of her ex's cousin, charming Oliver. Adding another level of concern to Mallory's bumpy ride is Ginnie's conviction that their shallow though earnest mother is having an affair and her misguided efforts to fix their parents' marriage. Mallory's appealing, sarcasm-tinged first-person narrative voice sculpts a likable teen mildly reminiscent of Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicolson. Although a far-too-convenient event proves Mallory was wrong about her grandmother's simpler life, that fails to derail an otherwise admirable look at the advantages, and the downsides, of modern technology--and serious relationships. A funny and even thoughtful look at boyfriends, high school angst and the importance of finding oneself. (Fiction. 11-16)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Mallory breaks up with her boyfriend, Jason, when she learns he has a wife on the website Authentic Life. This betrayal, along with the discovery of a to-do list her grandmother wrote when she was a 16-year-old, gives Mallory the idea to give up modern technology and other contemporary accoutrements until she can check off all the things on Grandma Vivian's list. Start a pep club! Sew a prom dress! It isn't easy, but Mallory throws herself into her project and learns more about herself and her family than she ever expected. Leavitt has found a fine hook on which to hang her story. The differences and similarities of two very different eras will intrigue readers, though it will probably be the interpersonal relationships especially the one between Mallory and Jason's cousin, Oliver that will keep them turning pages. Mallory's bond with her sister is also sweet and true. Told in Mallory's amusing first-person voice, the story has a lot going on, but everything, from both time periods, gets neatly tied.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
