CRUSH: Stories

by Ellen Conford ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 31, 1998

From Conford (The Frog Princess of Pelham, p. 638, etc.), a mediocre collection of stories about dating. Characterization is paper-thin in most stories: Amy and her boyfriend Batso, whose distinguishing characteristics are that they are devoted to each other; the unfortunately designated ""Princess Di,"" who uses up boys ""like Kleenex""; and Linda, who is a fraud and a liar. ""The Gift of the Mangy,"" attempting to echo O. Henry, features two shallow kids who make sacrifices (she clips her nails, he gets a haircut) before trading gilts (a manicure kit for her, a hairdryer for him); in ""Have a Heart,"" Linda creates fraudulent charities and raffles before getting her comeuppance. When some girls decide to boost Robert's confidence in ""Metamorphosis,"" he becomes unbearably suave and licentious; for B.J., making a wish for a date in ""Two Coins in a Fountain"" is more complicated than she can predict. Conford's glibness comes through in observations that don't always match their teenage protagonists' sensibilities--""his build was slim to none""--but the real trouble is the book's stubborn lack of substance. Each piece is more of a one-joke concept than a fully rendered story, and doesn't even qualify as brain candy.

Pub Date: Jan. 31, 1998

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 141

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1997

Categories: CHILDREN'S