Reviews (12)

Baseball in april and other stories
The book Baseball in april and other stories is a book based on different stories in it. I think that it's a fun book to read for us teens because if you find the first story boring or you not interested in the story, you can go to the next story. I think books like that have different stories that relate to each other(I guess. There were only about three (3) stories that I didnt like or it was just boring to me.
Great storytelling
I discovered Gary Soto's poetry in a public library in Nebraska. Then I read his short stories, my favorite being "Baseball in April." Like his poetry, these stories are beautiful in that they reveal a child's inner thought life; they also show the challenges that teenagers go through.
good
The reason that I think this book is very good is because,of various reasons. One reason i think this book is very good is cause in the book the kids sound like they are having fun and its very realistic ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children's stories, American    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Fiction    7. Mexican Americans    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Short Stories    10. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    11. Juvenile Fiction / Short Stories   

Editorial Review

Maria is feeling so grown-up, wearing her mother's apron and helping to knead the Read more

Reviews (5)

Wow!
This is a beautiful picture book that just melts your heart. This is one of Gary Soto's classics. This is an asset for any classroom to have. The illustrations are so beautiful that you could almost reach out and hug Maria when she is looking at the ring on her finger. Her smile is adorable.The illustrations show the glittery feeling of the holiday season. This book could be used in teaching many lessons on honesty, traditions, Christmas, family and the humor within the storyline. Every child should have a chance to hear this story being read to them and have the opportunity to read the story on there own.

don't underestimate the power of this book
I got this book because of its truly exceptional illustrations.The colors are rich and evocative.But I was surprised to see the profound effect that this book had on my four-year-old daughter.She empathized so deeply with the shame and the desperation of the main character that for an entire week after reading this story she was coming to me to make confessions of all the times she was tempted to do things that were wrong.It was a combination of the story and the intense emotions that are depicted in the paintings that came together to shake her to the core.For that reason, think this is a great book for all children, not just Latinos and not just for Christmastime.

4 1/2* One Ring to Fool Them All
The warm interiors suffusing this beautifully illustrated Christmas time story convey the entire emotional tone of the book.Although we're waiting for an accident to happen-we can just tell that young Maria is somehow going to lose her mother's ring while helping her make tamales-we also are pretty certain thins are going to work out alright.While this may take away a bit of suspense, this is a comforting book that promises a happy conclusion (delivered her by a surprise).
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Christmas    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mexican Americans    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Rings    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Christmas   

Reviews (1)

Really Touching
This book is a collection of short stories about Mexican-American teens in California, but the themes and the things they do could apply to anyone. Reading this book, you watch their transition into adulthood, the loss of innocence and the pain that comes with it. The stories are all very different. There is the story of a girl who tries to buy back all the clothes of her mother's her father gave away when her mother died. There is the story of a hardworking, honest boy, and his cousin, who flees when the going gets rough, but comes back for the glory. But all the stories weave a complicated picture that will leave you sighing wistfully at the end. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    3. Children's stories, American    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mexican Americans    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Short Stories    10. Social Issues - Adolescence    11. Social Situations - Adolescence    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Adolescence   

Reviews (3)

A Little Boy, A Big World
I read Gary Soto's "A Summer Life" while I was writing my first book in order to educate myself in the creation of vibrant, evocative scenes that come out of ordinary, every day experiences. For example, in Soto's essay, "The Shirt," he shows how the tragic, post-Korean War existence of Uncle Shorty seemed magical and special to a young Soto who covets his uncle's shirt: "I used to slip it on when he was asleep, and at the age of five I knew the smell of a man who went and came back from war....It was the shape of muscle, the anger of a tattoo panther hiding behind cotton, the hair in the collar, the small hole where a bullet could have entered and exited without his dying." Or, with the simple first line of "The Weather," Soto can set the stage for the mysteries of climate: "January doesn't show its true face until you can scratch a cold window with a finger."This little book will make you smile (and sometimes wince) as it brings back your own personal memories of growing up. This is a wonderful collection that offers everyone, including new writers, a chance to enjoy and learn from beautifully crafted essays.

A Summer Life por Gary Soto
A Summer Life explores a young boys life as he grows up in Fresno, California.In a three partbook, broken into thirteen short chapters in each part, Gary Soto covers everything from "TheColors", to "The Chicks", to "The Computer Date". (names of chapters). Mischeivness wasdefinitely a part of this boys life, just as it is for most young boys.In just the first chapter, "TheBuddha", the boy killed ants with his Buddha toy, and ran underneath a moving semi-truck.The boy would do such silly things as taking old bicycle handle bars and imagining that they would slow him down and keep him from reaching a high, uncontrollable speed.He would also put bottle caps on the bottom of his shoes, then he would kick the cement to make an "engine of sparks" come from beneath his feet. Throughout the story the boy has a few problems with his siblings.When his sister chewed Bazooka bubble gum and saved the proof of purchases to send in and get a locket, he wanted her to get the binoculars instead. As the boy has these experiences with his family and his surrounding, he matures from age five to seventeen, and is confronted with events that teach him lessons about life.Gary Soto definitely shows his poet style of writing in A Summer Life.There is rarely a detail missed. This was truly a great book and I recommend it to readers who enjoy real life situations, a sly sense of humor, and a realist style of writing.I would give "A Summer Life" three thumbs up if I had another hand! -RmP

Amazing!
This book was first read to me when I was in fifth grade.Years later I can still remember being in California with the characters in the book -smelling, seeing, touching everything that they smelled, saw and touched. Wow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Social Issues - General    6. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (2)

Just like my grandparents
I really enjoyed the book and gave it to my grandparents because that is exactly how they are.(and Mexican too!) A great fun story that teaches about love kindness and patience.

First graders loved this silly story!
How many ways can YOU think of to use a door?My first graders loved this silly story of an old man who thinks his wife told him to bring a door ("la puerta") to a friends's barbeque.Of course, she said bring"el puerco" -- a pig -- to the party. But the old man is too busyto listen carefully...and off he goes down the street with the door on hisback!On the way, he meets with multiple adventures -- all of whichrequire a door for assistance.By the time he gets to the barbeque, he hasa few special gifts -- and a funny story -- to contribute.(But still nopig...)Like all Gary Soto books, the conversation is sprinkled withSpanish.The illustrations by Joe Cepeda are colorful and lively.Thiswas (by a narrow vote) my student's favorite Gary Soto book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Doors    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Parties    10. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (11)

Living up the Street
Living up the Street (Book Review)
Book Review
Living Up the Street is one of many autobiographies written by Gary Soto. It tells of the ups and downs throughout his childhood, adolescence, and even adult life. This realistic book is enjoyable to read because many people can relate to one of his experiences one way or another. Though the book it without plot, sequence, or continuity, it is interesting from the very first chapter you read. This autobiography is mainly about Gary Soto, and his poor Mexican family, growing up in Fresno, California, in the 60's and 70s'. It is fun to read because it is as if you are reading and viewing someone as they grow up and mature. Through Gary's mistakes, he's learns valuable lessons for life on his own. To give you a better understanding of the book, knowing some events that occurred in the beginning will help you know how interesting it is. In the introduction, the three main characters are presents, who also happen to be all siblings. Rick, who is 6, Gary 5, and Debra 4.Most of the beginning shows the everyday family struggles they had growing up and how when the Mom, when she was angry enough, hit them with a belt after they acted up. One of the first events which happened, is when the Mom had somewhere to go and left the children home alone unattended accidentally.Since the kids loved playing with fire, they managed to burn a few items on fire inside the house and have fun with a tomato fight also, ruining the entire living room and kitchen. This is just one of many events that took place in this novel.

Don't judge a book by it's cover,fools!
I had to read this nutjob of a book with the class as a freshman this year and the cover and plot review on the back of the book made it look like bird scratch but right when you start reading you'd notice it's pretty damn good. This is on of those rare books that start o be interesting from the very beginning chapter and have small chapters so you feel optimistic about reading alot of sections of the book and feel a sense of almost finished. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    4. Biography & Autobiography - Ethnic    5. Children's 12-Up - Biography / Autobiography    6. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    7. Juvenile literature    8. Mexican Americans    9. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    10. Poets, American    11. Youth.    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino   

Reviews (31)

The best basketball book
This excellent and appealing story deals with cultural differences,moving,and basketball. An eight grader,Lincoln mendoza and his mother have just moved from barriot to sycamore,due to a robberie.Lincoln misses his old neighborhood and old dirty freinds.He also misses the fights that would occur in barriot.The reason i gave this book four stars was becuase it had good parts.My favorite part in this book was the part when he played against the other team because it was all his freinds.The arthur desribed this book so great.At his new school he is playing on there basketball team which happens to play against his old school franklin he is very nervous and why does his coach dislike him?????

Switching Teams
Switching Teams
Audio Book Review for Ms. O
The story deals with moving, cultural differences and basketball. The main charactar is Lincoln Mendoza or as what his friends say, Linc. He moves from the bario to a white suburb because a burgler Read more

Subjects:  1. Basketball    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fiction    6. Hispanic Americans    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Schools    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    11. Sports & Recreation - Basketball    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Prejudice & Racism   

Editorial Review

Not many authors kill their main character on page two, but when Gary Soto does in Read more

Reviews (18)

The Afterlife
The Afterlife by Gary Soto was a fascinating book. In the story, a man with yellow shoes has murdered Chuy. The book is about Chuy, and his thoughts and actions in the afterlife. Now being a ghost, he can pass through buildings and people, but his touch leaves behind a cold chill. The story is fascinating because you feel sorry for him, and his lost life. You can understand his emotions. Chuy is an average kid who tries to do good in his afterlife, to make things better for at least one person. It is also about his meeting with other ghosts and the impacts he has on them. I liked this book because it makes you think about what you would do as a ghost. The story was really well told, and Gary Soto puts you into the life of this kid. I recommend this book to anyone who can stand blood and gore, but likes a happy ending. It was a great read and you don't want to put it down until you've finished.

The Afterlife by Gary Soto
The book that i read was titled: "The Afterlife" by Gary Soto. It has 158 pages. It's about a high school boy named Jesus, but everyone just calls him Chuy. As you've probably guessed, he dies in the first chapter. The book is about him wandering around as a ghost.
weak ending
I have read this story more than once (I'm a teacher), but each time I come to the same conclusion: the writer must have gotten busy with something else because his ending is so weak.How can a writer write such a good story and then just let the ending fizzle.Even my students mentioned that the ending was disappointing.However, I have noticed this same thing in other young adult novels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Fiction    4. Ghosts    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mexican Americans    8. Social Issues - Death & Dying    9. Social Situations - Death & Dying    10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Death & Dying   

Editorial Review

"Chato, a low-riding cat with six stripes, wasslinking toward a sparrow when he heard the scrape of tiny feetcoming from the yard next door." You get the idea. Chato is asly, mustachioed "cool cat" from an East Los Angelesbarrio. The tiny feet? Those belong to the new mice(Read more

Reviews (12)

Pretty Kitties, Pretty Good Book
Chato is a character in more than one Soto book. He is an urban cat who looks Hispanic and, frankly, a little sleazy (his cat friends likewise have mustaches and wear gold chains and wife beaters). When a family of ratoncitos (mice) moves into the neighborhood, Chato hatches a scheme to invite them to dinner. They will be dinner, of course.
Sleek and sophisticated
A remarkably original book. The illustrations are well wrought, and the story contains some of the most evocative I've heard in a picture book. Describing Novio Boy's collar, the book says it was, "a leather one with real gems that sparkled at night when cars passed in the street". The cats themselves are a twinge odd. Drawn with cat bodies but human eyes, teeth, and moustaches, they are just disturbing enough to keep the pictures interesting. It's a colorful book as well, full of beautiful swirling scenes and bold shapes. The use of Spanish throughout the text is seamless as well, never striking the reader as out of place or jarring. This book would read well with other stories that incorporate more than one language in their text. Or, kids could read it with other picture books that take place in Hispanic communities. Or, it could be paired with other stories where hungry preying animals fail to get a meal. A beautiful book to read aloud to groups.

Nice children's book
The book "Chato's Kitchen" is designed for the age group 4-8. It's the story of a cat, Chato, who has some culinary plans involving the harmless mouse family next door. There are quite a number of Spanish words--and this, I think, adds a rather exotic touch to the book. However, some of the English words are beyond the vocabulary of an average 8 year-old, and this may inhibit readability. The characters and the plot allow for a great deal of acting out if one reads the book aloud. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Animals - General    3. Cats    4. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Mice    11. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Editorial Review

Eddie can always smell onions in the air--the sharp bitter odor of hopelessness and anger that haunts the poor side of Fresno. "I had a theory about those vapors, which were not released by the sun's heat but by a huge onion buried under the city. This onion made us cry. Tears leapt from our eyelashes and stained our faces." Eddie tries to escape from the poverty and gang society that surrounds him by taking vocational classes and staying away from his old "cholos," (gang friends). But when his cousin is killed, his aunt urges him to seek out and punish the murderer. To avoid the pressure building in his neighborhood, Eddie takes a landscaping job in an affluent suburb. But this too goes awry when his boss's truck is stolen while in his care. In the end, with his money gone and a dangerous gang member stalking him, Eddie's only choice is to join the military and hope that they can give him a better future than the one Fresno seems to offer.Read more

Reviews (35)

The Greatest book I've RED!!!
In the book "Buried Onions", Gary Soto lets us wonder our minds and making us see how hard it is for a nineteen year old man, Eddie, trying to get away from all the violence that Fresno, California has to offer.Eddie with all the pain that he feels and all the sorrow that he feels also since his Father and his brother and now his cousin are all dead, He now wants a change in his life and with all the problems that he passed he finally reconsiders his coaches request for him to join the Marines.

Violence, Sex and Girls
Ana Garcia from Torrance, California
Buried Onions
It's a sweltering summer and the streets of Fresno stink: like violence and onions. "This onion made us cry. Tears leapt from our eyelashes and stained our faces." Nineteen-year-old Eddie lives by himself in a decrepit apartment downtown where he is barely surviving the heat of the sun or his neighborhood. Simply living is enough to render him lethargic, but not just on account of the heat.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    7. Mexican Americans    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Social Issues - General    10. Violence    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General    12. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (3)

Local News Review
In Local News, each chapter is a different story, where each main character has a different message to tell. Although the messages are pretty clear, some you have to do a little thinking for .It's like each chapter is a mini story.
Local News
Recently, I gained the privilege to read a book that was written by Gary Soto.The book that I read was entitled, Local News.Throughout this short book, Gary describes 11 different situations that are common for teenagers growing up in Hispanic neighborhoods.I will give a brief, yet detailed description of five of my favorite stories. a good book overall but with an intended audience
I read "Local News" for my college Children's Literature course.The teacher assigned it for the week on multi-cultural literature.The book itself was okay, but I believe it has a limited audience.Gary Soto wrote the book for two purposes.One was to show everyone thatMexican-American children are really no different than any other children. The second was to provide Mexican-American children with literature thatcontained Mexican-American characters, kids that they felt they couldrelate to.So, in that aspect, it was a good book.I would highlyrecommend it to anyone specifically looking for Mexican-American charactersor for any parents or teachers looking to teach their children and studentsabout kids in other cultures and to broaden their horizons. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children's stories, American    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    8. Mexican Americans    9. Short Stories    10. Social Issues - Adolescence    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Adolescence   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Anecdotes    3. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    6. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    7. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    8. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Mexican American poets    11. Mexican American youth    12. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    13. Poetry    14. Poetry (Young Adult)    15. Poetry - General    16. Poets, American    17. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino   

Reviews (1)

Getting hairy with Gary Soto
"Big Bushy Mustache" combines text by Gary Soto with illustrations by Joe Cepada. They tell the story of Ricky, a young Latino boy. His teacher is planning to have the class put on a play about Cinco de Mayo, and Ricky will get to wear a costume mustache. But Ricky gets into a jam when he disobeys the teacher's instructions.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Family - General    4. Fathers and sons    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Hair    8. Holidays & Celebrations - Other, Nonreligious    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Mexican Americans    11. Mustaches    12. School & Education    13. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (3)

Julia - Farmersville, CA
Off and Running is about Miata, a girl who wants to be president of her school.She is running against Rudy.She wants to win to make the school a better place but Rudy only wants to do things that are not going to help the school.This is really a great book.I think you should read this book to find out who will win.It is funny.

Miguel - Farmersville, CA
This is a good story.I hope you like it when you read it.I did.I would read it again and again.I am not going to give away the ending for you.I will only tell you that it is about a girl who wants to be class president.Vote for Miata!

Enjoyable, but lacks convincing suspense
"Off and Running" is a quick read with pleasant characters and vignettes, but although the central event--the election for student body president--should quicken the pulse, it fails to. Everyone is just too nice. Miata, the very serious girl, is portrayed fairly realistically, asare her modest goals if she should be elected (sprucing up the school,creating a "lake of flowers" around it). Her opponent, Rudy, is abuffoon, but not a nasty one, which is not so realistic. No one gets hurtvery much, and there are no hard feelings, which, given the intensity ofchildren's emotions, is a little hard to believe. If only it were sosimple!Of particular interest is Miata's desire to connect to older,successful politicians, to learn from them.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Humorous Stories    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Mexican Americans    7. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    8. School & Education    9. School stories    10. Schools    11. Social Issues - General    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Christmas    3. Family - General    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mexican Americans    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Rings    10. Spanish language materials    11. Spanish: Grades 2-3    12. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Christmas   

Editorial Review

Chato has been a party animal since he was a kitten. So when hediscovers that his best friend Novio Boy has never had a birthday party (beingfrom the pound, he never even knew his Read more

Reviews (4)

Hello kitty
Chato's back.Having learned his lesson from his encounter with the mice in "Chato's Kitchen" this kitty cat is now at peace with every animal he encounters.So much so, in fact, that he is quite the partier.While attending the birthday celebration of the dog Chorizo, Chato discovers a sad fact about his buddy Novio Boy.Originally from the pound, Novio Boy never knew his mother and never had an official birthday.That's all the info Chato needs as an excuse to throw for Novio Boy one of the biggest birthday celebrations ever.He hires a dj, buys tons of food and presents, even purchases a gigantic blow-up dog to fight with.As the guests arrive, however, one fact remains alarmingly clear.Novio Boy was never invited to his own party!After some scrambling and a mistaken death everything turns out for the best and Novio Boy has one of the best pachangas a cat could hope for. Party on, Chato!
"Chato and the Party Animals" is a fun children's book by Gary Soto. The story is superbly complemented by Susan Guevara's illustrations. The book opens with a Spanish-English glossary. The text is in English, with Spanish words from the glossary ("comida," "el barrio," etc.) blended in. Great Use of Language!
This book is great on so many levels.I read it with students I tutor and they requested it again and again.At the end of the year I gave them each a copy as a gift.Both of them opened it and got wide-eyed as they saw what it was!One of them said, "This is my favorite book ever!"This was wonderful to hear from a kid who started out so reluctant to read.The story is great on so many levels; there is a message of friendship that is not sappy, but very sincere.Soto also skillfully weaves in the culture of the barrio with his use of Spanish and Mexican themes.What a lovely story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Cats    3. Celebrations - Birthdays    4. Celebrations - Parties    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Parties    10. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    11. Spanish: Kindergarten    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (1)

A Very Good for Hispnic Teens
As a librarian I am always looking for books for Lation Kids.The short stories in this book are fun.Great characters and plots.Latino teens will enjoy reading this particular book!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Mexican Americans    6. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    7. Short Stories    8. Short Story Collections (Young Adult)    9. Social Issues - General    10. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Emotions & Feelings   

Editorial Review

What a treat: an honest-to-goodness play! Budding actors and drama coaches will enjoy this lighthearted story about the awkwardness and excitement of young love in a Mexican American community. Perhaps the word "enjoy" is an understatement ... I do believe that young actors will have a hard time Read more

Reviews (46)

novio boy book review
I like Novio boy, it's alright. I like all the challenging,
omg its a book
Alright my class has just finished this book it's pretty good. This book is about two main characters. One's a boy named Rudy and his in the ninth grade. The other's a girl in the eleventh grade. There are a lot of other characters in it like Rudy's mother and his best friend.
Flashback 06
This book started in a place called Southern California. It's about Rudy's parents, friends, and Patricia's parents and friends giving advice for their first date. Their parents and friends are giving them tips so they can be happy together. I liked this book because it relates to my life. It relates to my li