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The Queen of Cool
 | The Queen of Cool Cecil Castellucci Date: 14 February, 2006 — $10.87 — Book Rating: |
Libby Brin is shallow, bored, and allegedly cool. The "cool" things she does with her friends include taping pencils on themselves and declaring it Pencil Day and wearing pajamas to school. (Wouldn't they get sent home if they showed up for school in pajamas?) On a whim, she signs up for an internship at the zoo and ends up partnered with Tiny Tina , a little person from her school. Over the course of the semester, Libby learns that her friends aren't quite as cool as she thought and she comes to appreciate the experience she gains at the zoo.
Although I was never quite convinced of Libby's status as "Queen of Cool," it was perfectly clear that Tiny Tina and Pizza Face Sheldon were not cool -- which is probably why they were my favorite characters. Libby is not sympathetic or introspective, but she is observant. The short chapters told in the first person seem to mimic the field notebook Libby keeps for the zoo. She doesn't share many thoughts or feelings just reports what happens -- and somehow, it works. I couldn't stand Libby by the end of the first chapter, but Tiny shows up in the second chapter, and things get interesting (page 3).
The appealing cover will attract fans of chick lit. A good choice for reluctant readers, but the swearing may not make it the best choice for younger YAs. Recommended for large and urban libraries.
When a trendsetting Popular Girl finds herself bored with being part of the
cool crowd, she decides to try something different and begins volunteering
at a zoo, with a couple of "geeks." Libby's reputation is in danger, but
she is finally doing something she enjoys, that happens to be meaningful as
well. She makes a bad judgement call to maintain her Queen of Cool status,
and that is decidedly Not Cool. I agree that her observations are sharp,
but I found her more well developed than Liz :)