Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
Just before her sophomore year, Poppy Browne is taken from her normal life in Boulder and unwillingly put into a new town, Pleasant Acres. There, Poppy will be attending Calvary High, a Baptist school that has its fair share of sins and secrets.
Right off the bat, Poppy causes quite a stir with her nose piercing and a few snarky comments, which gets her noticed by the popular girls, Whitney and Mary Jane. She's never felt the need to fit in, as back in Colorado she hung out with the tats and pierced crowd. But now she faces a dilemma of which clique to befriend. Should she choose the ever-popular and extremely gorgeous girls, or the "Good News Choir" that features Bridgette Josephs, the all-around overachiever and Poppy's very own Calvary High tour guide?
Intrigued by Mary Jane and Whitney, Poppy finds herself getting friendly with the two, wondering how she climbed up the social ladder so quickly. Unfortunately, Poppy will soon discover that being friends with these two girls probably wasn't the best choice to make. Turns out they have an itch for shoplifting.
Before she knows it, Poppy is lifted into an entirely foreign world filled with an irresistible and charmingly arrogant preacher's son, old grudges, revenge schemes, and a whole new temptation complete with a rush that is full of expensive merchandise. Can Poppy handle such things as crushes, a best friend's boyfriend issues, and backstabbing, or will she need a quick prayer and some major forgiveness to get her through the year?
Wendy Toliver realistically portrays a girl swept into a world of stolen goods where the rush takes control and the actions become impulsive. Poppy, as the central character, gives the novel a lighter feel, with her hilarious outlook on life and love. LIFTED has all the important qualities that make it a good read: it's fun, smart, and extremely addictive, just like the main character and her frowned upon new habit.
Just before her sophomore year, Poppy Browne is taken from her normal life in Boulder and unwillingly put into a new town, Pleasant Acres. There, Poppy will be attending Calvary High, a Baptist school that has its fair share of sins and secrets.
Right off the bat, Poppy causes quite a stir with her nose piercing and a few snarky comments, which gets her noticed by the popular girls, Whitney and Mary Jane. She's never felt the need to fit in, as back in Colorado she hung out with the tats and pierced crowd. But now she faces a dilemma of which clique to befriend. Should she choose the ever-popular and extremely gorgeous girls, or the "Good News Choir" that features Bridgette Josephs, the all-around overachiever and Poppy's very own Calvary High tour guide?
Intrigued by Mary Jane and Whitney, Poppy finds herself getting friendly with the two, wondering how she climbed up the social ladder so quickly. Unfortunately, Poppy will soon discover that being friends with these two girls probably wasn't the best choice to make. Turns out they have an itch for shoplifting.
Before she knows it, Poppy is lifted into an entirely foreign world filled with an irresistible and charmingly arrogant preacher's son, old grudges, revenge schemes, and a whole new temptation complete with a rush that is full of expensive merchandise. Can Poppy handle such things as crushes, a best friend's boyfriend issues, and backstabbing, or will she need a quick prayer and some major forgiveness to get her through the year?
Wendy Toliver realistically portrays a girl swept into a world of stolen goods where the rush takes control and the actions become impulsive. Poppy, as the central character, gives the novel a lighter feel, with her hilarious outlook on life and love. LIFTED has all the important qualities that make it a good read: it's fun, smart, and extremely addictive, just like the main character and her frowned upon new habit.
