Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Tween girls will get a kick out of this one. With all the middle grade angst involving boyfriends and popularity, Kristina Springer has hit the nail on the head.
Tori is feeling totally abandoned by her best friend, Sienna. After all, Sienna spent the summer at some fabulous house in Florida getting a tan, and, apparently, getting an amazing boyfriend. All this while Tori stayed at home doing absolutely nothing as she waited for Sienna's dwindling texts and emails. Seventh grade is about to begin, and Tori doesn't even know if they are still friends.
It quickly becomes obvious that all Sienna is planning to do is talk about Antonio. He sends the best emails. He gives the best presents. He's the best kisser. Tori is getting more jealous by the minute, until she realizes that this long-distance boyfriend might not really exist.
The more Tori listens to Sienna, the more she begins to believe that Antonio is make-believe. Tori decides two can play that game, and she invents Sebastian. Now, the battle is on!
Ms. Springer takes all of the worst parts of seventh grade behavior and brings them together in MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS. All the feelings of insecurity and inferiority, of not fitting in and not being popular, are present in the characters of Tori and Sienna. Even though the ending is fairly predictable, readers will find the journey there an interesting one.
Tween girls will get a kick out of this one. With all the middle grade angst involving boyfriends and popularity, Kristina Springer has hit the nail on the head.
Tori is feeling totally abandoned by her best friend, Sienna. After all, Sienna spent the summer at some fabulous house in Florida getting a tan, and, apparently, getting an amazing boyfriend. All this while Tori stayed at home doing absolutely nothing as she waited for Sienna's dwindling texts and emails. Seventh grade is about to begin, and Tori doesn't even know if they are still friends.
It quickly becomes obvious that all Sienna is planning to do is talk about Antonio. He sends the best emails. He gives the best presents. He's the best kisser. Tori is getting more jealous by the minute, until she realizes that this long-distance boyfriend might not really exist.
The more Tori listens to Sienna, the more she begins to believe that Antonio is make-believe. Tori decides two can play that game, and she invents Sebastian. Now, the battle is on!
Ms. Springer takes all of the worst parts of seventh grade behavior and brings them together in MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS. All the feelings of insecurity and inferiority, of not fitting in and not being popular, are present in the characters of Tori and Sienna. Even though the ending is fairly predictable, readers will find the journey there an interesting one.
