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Second Helpings: A Novel (平装)
by Megan Mccafferty
| Category:
Teens, High school life, Novel |
| Market price: ¥ 158.00
MSL price:
¥ 148.00
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
This time is about our lovably cynical heroine, Jessica Darling, she is about to begin her final year in high school. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 8 items |
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Elizabeth Hendry (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
I loved Second Helpings, and it's been years since I was in high school. It's a great story, very funny. The action in the novel takes place from July 2001-June 2002 in New Jersey high school student Jessica Darling's life. She spends part of her summer at writing camp, and then comes home to deal with the trials and tribulations of modern high school life and her senior year - college selection, boyfriends, mad crushes, friends, enemies. The novel takes the form of Jessica's diary, so we are privy to her innermost thoughts - many of which concern Marcus - an obsession that has followed her around since we last saw Jessica in Sloppy Firsts. Jessica is a great narrator--funny, sarcastic, poignant, heartbreaking, and even at times infuriating. This is a terrific novel and you certainly don't have to read Sloppy Firsts to enjoy it, but read Sloppy Firsts first - it is an excellent novel, just as strong as this one. I think anyone would enjoy this novel - it certainly does not need to be limited to the young adult crowd. Enjoy.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
In the sequel to Sloppy Firsts we find Jessica Darling agonizing over both her future and her love life. Jessica finally decides to move on from what happened with Marcus and begins dating her academic rival, Len Levy. But Jessica's feelings for Marcus aren't as buried as she'd like them to be, which doesn't bode well for her and Lens' relationship. Meanwhile, Jessica is determined to make the right choice for college so she isn't miserable for the next four years as well. She has her heart set on Columbia but after the 9/11 attacks she has second thoughts about attending a school in New York.
I liked this book almost as much as the first one which is to say I liked it a whole darn lot. I was happy that the book continued to be realistic instead of descending into teen romance mush. I was satisfied with the ending and it seemed pretty final but I still can't help but want to read about Jessica's college exploits. Anyway, fans of the first book will be happy with this one.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
Columbia U grad and New Jerseyian Megan McCaffery does it again with this amazing sequel to her first hit, Sloppy Firsts.
Despite her loathing of the Clueless Crew, Bridget becomes Jessica's best gal pal at Pineville. She is far less annoying than her counterparts, Sarah and Manda. Bridget meanwhile is having a secret relationship with Pepe Le Pew, who once, in French class, pined over Jessica and made many efforts to win her affections. Pepe is another one of the few normal people at Pineville and Jessica is drawn to him because he doesn't embarass easily and he's as intellectually bright and ahead of the game as she is.
And so is Marcus Flutie, He Who Shall Remain Nameless. What they really need is each other's friendships and after almost a year of silence between them from Sloppy Firsts' New Year's incident, you are always waiting for that special moment when you know they'll hook up.
But there's obstacles in that, including Len Levy ::gasp::, who has suddenly turned into Jessica's idea of hot, courtesy of the miracle acne drug, Accutane. Their relationship never really heats up, however. He decides he wants to save sex for marriage. Hideously skanky Manda wants to be a seconday virgin after her countless flings that earned her nicknames such as "Lend-A-Handa-Manda" and "The Headmaster." So Len dumps Jessica (and she tells him off later on) and takes up with Manda, which had me in stitches.
That's the thing with SECOND HELPINGS: same amusement, same old Jessica Lynn "Not-so" Darling, same sarcastic wit from book one. As you read into her wishes to be accepted into Columbia U, much to her parents' dismay, you'll understand her stress over college admissions because you'll be in the middle of it, have gone through it, or you'll be thinking about it (hopefully). Jessica is a hard worker and intellectually above the rest of Pineville's population. If anyone deserves to go to Columbia, it is she. It's just so hard for her to believe she'll get something she wants so badly.
From the Marcus Flutie hookup, to trying drugs for the first time and suddenly being enamored with how awesome her sweater is, to her Columbia letter, to a totally unexpected meeting with now gay and out Paul Parlipiano, Second Helpings should have enough surprises and laughter for both the YA and adult crowd. Both I and my mother adored this book.
I can't wait for book three, THIRD CHARMS, coming out in either 2005 or early 2006... yes, a long time for our third dose of Jessica.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
If I could I would give this book 20 out of 5. Like it's prequel Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings successfully captures teen life. Everything about her life, I can relate to. I am 15 years old, around the age of the main character Jessica Darling in the first book, and when I read these books I feel like they were written about me. As cheesy as it sounds, the author just knows everything about teens. From Jessica's struggles with friends, her lack of sex life (or any romance for that matter) and pressure from her parents are as true to real life as they come. This book is so witty I found myself laughing out loud several times. Quotes jump out at me from the pages, urging me to write them down.
In short, Jessica Darling used to be 'the girl that every teen girl could identify with'. After this book, she has now added to that, the title of 'the girl that every teen girls hopes to become.
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Annie Jorgens (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
Second Helpings picks up the story at the beginning of the following school year, at which point Jessica and Marcus haven't talked since New Year's Eve. Almost against her will, Marcus is slowly dragged back into her life. At first, Marcus tries to get his best friend to go out with Jessica and he succeeds in doing so. In truth, he's in love with Jessica, and only wants her to be happy. It takes Jessica most of the story to realize what Marcus feels, what she herself feels and the reality of things around her.
Second Helpings is a story of realization, friendship and growing up. Aided by a childhood friend (and onetime Clueless Crew member) and another friend, Jessica dusts herself off after a heartbreak and pushes forward. A scene where she's told how Marcus feels about her is one of the best in the book. Marcus might be the best character in the book, being that he's always highly intelligent yet not always in control. Megan McCafferty shows us two characters who are both head and shoulders above their peers intellectually, but also both in need of friendship (namely each other's). No matter how intelligent Marcus is, he's almost unable to make Jessica warm up to him. Regardless of how vulnerable Jessica feels, she won't let Marcus inside, possibly out of fear for his motivations, intentions and past.
Subplots in the story include Jessica's search for a college to attend, her struggles with the track team, the ongoing gossip trail of her friends (most of them from Sloppy Firsts), meeting up with her old crush, and her family. All roads lead to growing up, and each subplot is a part of that. It's a tightly woven story and while it's significantly longer than Sloppy Firsts, the two stories merge together well, and there's realistic character development. In short, it's a fine novel and improves upon SLOPPY FIRSTS. Recommended! I also agree with the other reviewer who recommended THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez, another book I loved!
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Brittany Rose (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
In Megan McCafferty's Second Offering in the Jessica Darling sagas, we get introduced to her life as a Senior. With even more pessimistic yet realistic views of life as a suburban teenager, get ready for the rollercoaster ride of Jessica's life as she goes through new steps in boyfriends, sex-type-stuff, friends, dealing with the past, her family, and altogether your typical teenager life.
The thing I love about this book is that its so real. The average teen book out there puts the main character in some weird crazy situation that only a small majority can relate to: ex, death of a parent, living in a trailer park, etc. etc. McCafferty isn't afraid to address the fact that hwile in the Grand scheme of things JD's probs are probably trivial, in her life, they are her world. Which is why I think I (and many others) can relate.
If you're looking for a book where you feel at one with the characters and the plot, definately pick up Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings for a sometimes sad, sometimes touching, sometimes downright painfully hilariously embarassing and always real plot!
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
Second Helpings is a story of realization, friendship and growing up. Aided by a childhood friend (and onetime Clueless Crew member) and another friend, Jessica dusts herself off after a heartbreak and pushes forward. A scene where she's told how Marcus feels about her is one of the best in the book. Marcus might be the best character in the book, being that he's always highly intelligent yet not always in control. Megan McCafferty shows us two characters who are both head and shoulders above their peers intellectually, but also both in need of friendship (namely each other's). No matter how intelligent Marcus is, he's almost unable to make Jessica warm up to him. Regardless of how vulnerable Jessica feels, she won't let Marcus inside, possibly out of fear for his motivations, intentions and past.
Subplots in the story include Jessica's search for a college to attend, her struggles with the track team, the ongoing gossip trail of her friends (most of them from Sloppy Firsts), meeting up with her old crush, and her family. All roads lead to growing up, and each subplot is a part of that.
It's a tightly woven story and while it's significantly longer than Sloppy Firsts, the two stories merge together well, and there's realistic character development. In short, it's a fine novel and improves upon Sloppy Firsts. I'd also like to recommend two other fun Amazon purchases -- the losers' club by richard perez, dogrun by arthur nersesian. Love these books! Mmmmmm!
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-13 00:00>
It appears that there are an exorbitant number of female reviews of this book, and few (or none) which are written by males. Not surprising, since the book is aimed at an audience lacking a Y-chromosome. Yet here I am, a 17-year old typical (not) teenage male, writing a review for a book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Jessica's dry-wit was a pleasant backdrop for a story written with a solid premise and foundation. However, despite my enjoyment of this book, and my five-star rating, I found that there had a few aches from this book, things that, albeit being small, made me wonder as to what the author was thinking when she wrote it.
First and foremost, was my profound dislike of Jessica. Yes I know that she is witty, intelligent and observant. But she also happens to be the saddest sort of hypocrite imaginable. A large portion of the book is centered around Jess's differences from all other females. Yet, she acts exactly the same. She takes the same critical approach to many of the people in her life (Sara and Manda) but will still hand around them simply because they are her past, to which she doesn't want to turn her back. Also, I would have hoped that Jessica would not turn out to be the hormone-driven girl she is. She refers to Manda as a skank (no arguments) but she herself cannot stop thinking of guys. Her obsession with Marcus, with a pause for Len, being just one example.
Second: the author's inability to tie in Hope's life in any way shape or form into Jessica's communiqu?s. Clearly, the story is set around J.D and Hope is simply a foil to enhance to former. Yet it is shocking that in two years worth of soul-pouring (I've yet to read Charmed Thirds), Hope has hardly been given two lines for her own life. Sure Megan managed to slot her in at the end, but this is more of a last minute realization on her part that she had completely forgotten about the character was the premise for the writing of these two journals. I wanted to get to know Hope, not as the wall to which Jessica writes, but as her friend. I wanted to know her own issues and what she got out of her relationship with Jess, which otherwise seemed entirely single-ended, in favour of Jessica.
And my final rant to conclude this spiel, is about Jessica and Marcus. One of the most enjoyable parts of the book was the building up their relationship, Yet I was utterly disappointed (though probably from a personal point of view) that Jessica had sex with him on their first official day (hours even) of going out. Yes, it didn't ruin their relationship (I'll leave that for college), but it made it seem all too unreal. Yes they loved each other, and for quite some time before, but it was still their first official day going out. What kind of message are you sending, when Jessica Darling, the girl that countless pre-teens will look up to, has sex on her first day going out? (Not McCafferty's concern, I know, but should have still been considered).
What made up for it all and allowed me to enjoy it? Marcus. Being a male I get the short end of the stick. A lot. No one has faith in my ability to change. And no I am not talking about going from dreg to I.Q. since I am already there (please don't ask for credentials). I mean that no one would even place odds on my ability to go from socially-awkward to accepted. Megan gave Marcus that chance, and he took it, and was able to make something out of it (which I believe to be real, but remains to be seen). Marcus was a true non-conformist, one who people like myself could look up to and respect.
Either way I thought that this was a great book, and I am surprised that males turn their backs to it before they even begin. Sure they will have a vastly different perspective that most girls, but that is not to say that they won't enjoy it. Consider it your guilty pleasure. Enjoy!
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1 Total 1 pages 8 items |
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