Ready Or Not: An All-American Girl Novel

Plot

In this lively follow-up to All-American Girl (2002), in which 15-year-old Samantha Madison not only saved the president's life but also nabbed the First Son as her boyfriend, narrator Samantha, now a high school junior, tries to cope with various challenges, some of which are not unusual for a 16-year-old, and some which are more unique-- as a national celebrity, Samantha is followed and photographed at inopportune moments. Cabot has fashioned an appealing heroine, opinionated but willing to change her mind, self-centered but increasingly engaged by the rest of the world. There are no assassination attempts to thwart here, but Cabot does throw Samantha into the prickly politics-- both personal and national-- of premarital sex. Sense of humor intact, the teen emerges triumphant, with a stronger sense of herself and of "family values." Fans of Samantha's previous adventure will be happy to find more of her top-10 lists here, including the sobering "Top ten reasons it rules to be a teen in the United States (as opposed to elsewhere).-- modified from Abby Nolan's review, Booklist.