Ditched

Gr 7–10—The morning after the prom, Justina Griffith is fuzzy about how she ended up in a ditch. Her dress is stained; she has bruises, what she hopes is a temporary Tinker Bell tattoo, and foggy recollections of tumbling from a Toyota Prius. After making her way to a nearby 7-Eleven, she tells her story to the store clerk and a group of sympathetic listeners. Using the stains to spark her memory of what happened, Justina eventually sees what she hadn't been able to the night before. Decked out in her mother's choice of a consignment-shop dress and matching shoes, Justina planned to kiss Ian Clark, her thoughtful, understanding, perfect best friend and let him know that she was ready to take things to another level. But miscommunications, misunderstandings, and bad timing all played a role in keeping the pair apart for most of the evening. The pacing is a little slow at the beginning, as Justina's rehashing of events introduces the people who played a part in her downfall. The story has amusing characters and elements, including a dilapidated Cadillac, a giant daisy ring, and a rash of dog swapping. As events of the evening are explained readers find themselves knowing what happened well before the protagonist—which might prove to be frustrating. However, they will be able to relate to the feelings of regret, insecurity, and bravado that propel Justine through her madcap prom night, out of a ditch, and into a circle of new and caring friends.—Karen Elliott, Grafton High School, WI