SOMETHING, MAYBE
Elizabeth Scott
Simon Pulse
Fiction
ISBN: 9781416978657
224 pages

• About the Book
• Read an Excerpt
• Author Interview –– March 2009

In addition to her emotionally gripping novel LIVING DEAD GIRL and the touching, thought-provoking STEALING HEAVEN, Elizabeth Scott has a knack for creating books for teens that are light and fun to read, pure and simple. The protagonist is often a fairly uncomplicated yet likable character who is endearingly humble, a bit oblivious to her own obvious-to-everyone-else talents, and someone you don’t mind rooting for in the end. There’s usually an element of hardship to overcome (Dani and her mother’s “five-finger discount” lifestyle in STEALING HEAVEN; Kate’s dad’s ongoing mid-life crisis in PERFECT YOU), and of course, there’s always heaps of boy-ignoring, boy-chasing and boy-kissing to go around.

SOMETHING, MAYBE ventures into similar territory, with plenty of uncomfortable moments, blush-worthy misunderstandings and a few quirky elements that make the story amusing to follow --- the first of which being the 17-year-old protagonist’s mother. In Hannah’s own words: “I don’t have a normal mom. And when we first moved to Slaterville, all Mom had was a broken heart and me, and after a while she did what she thought she had to. What she knew. And that involved a web cam, underwear, and charging $24.95 a month to join ‘The Candy Club.’”

(Note to parents: yes, the fact that Hannah’s mom flaunts her sexy-ish wares online for a living is a bit risqué, but Scott steers clear of any excessively raunchy descriptions in favor of highlighting the mostly depressing circumstances of how she “broke into” the business in the first place.)

In between dealing with her lingerie-wearing single mom and her way-too-mundane after-school job at the menu call-in center for BurgerTown, Hannah has other pressing things on her mind. Her altruistic, Save-the-World crush, Josh, is suddenly giving her mix CDs and bringing her snacks in spite of having a girlfriend, and Finn --- the boy who has always been clingy, goofy and somewhat irritating --- lately seems a little…cuter? Plus, her famous long-lost poor-excuse-for-a-father, Jackson, is harping on her to visit. And despite the fact that she knows it’s only a publicity stunt for his pathetic reality show, she’s actually considering doing it.

A series of showdowns ensue involving Hannah, her self-absorbed father and his co-conspiring camera crew, Josh (the exposed poser) and Hannah’s scantily clad mother, and not least of all, Finn, who still continues to be cute and quite perceptive at all the right moments. As in many of Scott’s other books, everything turns right side up by the time the curtain closes. And most, if not all, of SOMETHING, MAYBE’s characters get what’s coming to them in the end --- for better or for worse.

Once again, Scott accomplishes what she does best --- conjuring up a boatload of sticky situations and allowing her characters to dive right in. Sure, they make a mess of things in the beginning, but it's a pleasure to watch them fumble, then get through it. Her characters aren't perfect, but neither are her readers, and that's what makes this novel such a worthwhile read.

    --- Reviewed by Alexis Burling

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