LOOKS AREN'T EVERYTHING

by J.D. Landis ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1990

A romantic mall-comedy featuring a cast of good-looking men and women, plenty of falling-in-love, and a store with a personality of its own. Sixteen-year-old Rosie Dupuy lives for boys, counts them to get to sleep at night, and in fact has them lining up to take her out. Still, she can't seem to catch the eye of her heart's desire, Handsome Harry Higgins, older brother of her best friend Jeannie. As Rosie pines, Jeannie hooks up with a personable but anonymous employee of the fast-food ""Potato Man"" restaurant, who wears his potato costume at all times--even on dates. Meanwhile, Rosie's mother falls for Stan Fuller, a visiting professor. Much of the action here takes place in La Maison de Trash, a kiosk in the Plainview Mall run by the Higgins family and offering all manner of useful items--from love potions to David Lee Roth dolls. The plot straggles gamely forward through thickets of chatter and Rosie's ruminations--on love, boys, dating, boys, philosophy (""Shallow waters run cute"") and, of course, boys. The subject of sex never rears its head, and the social games are played without hostility; the main characters are relaxed, glib, and a bit shy. After some mild angst, everyone ends up happy. A big step beyond the series books, and a sure-fire hit for readers obsessed with the opposite sex.

Pub Date: March 1, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 192

Publisher: Bantam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1990

Categories: CHILDREN'S