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Book Review of True To Form

True To Form
True To Form
Author: Elizabeth Berg
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Audio Cassette
LaurieS avatar reviewed on + 504 more book reviews


Unabridged audiobook 4 cassettes

The book is set in the late 1950's but that doesn't matter overmuch as the story could just as well take place today and the setting isn't a huge part of the telling. Katie is a lonely 13 year old living with her stern father and his new wife (who isn't, thankfully, an evil witchy stereotype). They recently moved to a new town and Katie is having a tough time making new friends. She wants to hang with the cool kids but only terminally uncool Cynthia has been friendly.

Katie is looking forward to spending her summer ogling sexy young lifeguards at the beach but those dreams come to a crashing halt when her father insists she spend her summer assisting a bedridden neighbor and babysitting some neighborhood brats. Katie, the dutiful daughter, does as he demands but slyly enters a "free vacation" contest which she wins. She uses it to visit the home town she misses so much and visit an old friend (a "cool" kid) for a few days. The trip turns out to be a bust as Katie realizes cool kids can also be very shallow and downright boring. The story continues as the days of summer pass and Katie grows up, makes mistakes and experiences all of the angst as only a 13 year old can. After reading this I've realized I wouldn't want to be 13 again even for all the chocolate in the land.

Katie is an easy to like character that makes some very wise observations about life and how things you thought were forever can all change so quickly. I enjoyed this little glimpse into her life.