Zielin, Lara (The Implosion of Aggie Winchester)

It is amazing to know real published authors. I don't understand how I know almost a whole handful of them. Me, whose lack of creativity simply oozes from her pores. I guess opposites attract!

I know I can get you to read this delightfully refreshing, slightly acerbic, breakneck-paced young adult novel by saying these five things:

• This is Veronica Mars, if Veronica Mars was a goth chick. (If you don't know who Veronica Mars is, well, sheesh.)
  
• The mom was perfect. I completely understood her, and I loved and hated her at the same time. This is what we want our moms to be, down deep.
  
• If you don't know what color a dress is that is the color of a lake at sunrise, it's time for you to move to the Midwest! (And it's one of the nicest allusions to Aggie's growth.)
  
• Don't doubt the innards of this book. They really happened. (Mostly.)
  
• If I could come up with prom king and queen names like Ms. Lara Zielin does, I wouldn't need a job. (You know, you could do just that for a living, Lara.)