From the Publisher
From the fist day at her new Southern California high school, Pasquala Rumalda Quintana de Archuleta ("Paski") learns that the popular students may be diverse in ethnicity but are alike in their cruelty. While Paski tries to concentrate on mountain biking and not thinking too much about ultra-hot Chris Cabrera, she is troubled by the beautiful and wicked Jessica Nguyen. Her at Aliso Niguel High, money is everything and the Haters rule.
Publishers Weekly
Like the film Mean Girls, Valdes-Rodriguez's (The Dirty Girls Social Club, for adults) first YA novel offers a hip, contemporary close-up view of power struggles and social cliques at an upper-crust high school. Paski (short for Pasquala), a native of Taos, N. Mex., gets a dose of culture shock when she moves to Orange County, Calif., with her cartoonist father, who has just landed a plum animator job. The 16-year-old soon finds out that in her new environs, wealth and outer beauty seem to count for everything. ("The cars the kids drive are nicer than the cars grown-ups drive back in Taos," Paski observes when she catches her first glimpse of Aliso Niguel High.) Trouble arises when Paski's biking skills and good looks catch the notice of heartthrob Chris Cabrera, who dates Jessica Nguyen, the most popular (and feared) girl in the school. At the same time that Jessica threatens her ("Stay away from Chris or you'll be very, very sorry," the girl warns), Paski has a premonition that something terrible is going to happen to Jessica during an upcoming race. The appeal of the novel comes from the author's mix of alluring elements exotic, well-defined characters clad in designer fashions, luxurious settings, dark foreshadowing and intensely romantic scenes. Although the ending reflects fulfilled desires rather than real life, readers will likely take delight in seeing the good guys and the bad guys get exactly what they deserve. Ages 15-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature
Teens who clue into cool books about young girls struggling to fit into a new school, fend off peer pressure, scope out hot guys, and tolerate clueless parents will love this book. Readers looking for plausible plots, in-depth character development, and social consciousness that goes beyond the surface level should keep looking. This novel tells the story of Paski Archuleta, who must adjust to her new life in Orange County at a high school where your popularity is based on your beauty, your income, and your willingness to submit to the reigning queen, the wicked Jessica Nguyen. Paski is not obsessed with being in—she prefers mountain biking to finding the right look—but she becomes a target once she attracts the attention of Jessica's boyfriend Chris. This novel has some unique twists, like her father moving to LA to animate movies, her grandmother being a psychic, and Paski herself having the gift. But there is also the petty "my dad is so clueless" and self-absorption of the main character. Issues like Japanese Interment, multinational companies, and environmentalism are woven into the story in a trendy but superficial way. The ending is a tour-de-force of wish fulfillment. Paski gets to replace the national youth champion, Jessica Nguyen, in a regional motorcross race without even having to qualify. She gets her man, who kindly buys her a new bike for the race. And her father is about to come into millions of dollars and is deep into a new girlfriend after very little time to build a relationship. Having said all of this, I am fully aware that many young girls will eat this book up. It has all of the flash, fashion, glamour, and teen tension that typifies Chick Lit forteens. So, if you are up for a fun light read, check it out.
VOYA
Pasquala Rumalda Quintana has to move from Taos, New Mexico, to Orange County, California, when her father gets a movie contract for his graphic novels. Paski, a confident, athletic, and intelligent junior, is both repulsed and intrigued by the very wealthy and beautiful in-crowd labeled the Haters by the rest of the school's students. Ending her first week at an exclusive party, Paski nearly dies after being slipped the date-rape drug and pushed into the swimming pool semi-conscious by Jessica, the self-crowned Queen "B." This modern fairy tale is filled with everything-an in crowd, an out crowd, life-threatening dangers, perfect boyfriends, excitement, adventure, romance, the psychic/spiritual world, and a happy ending. Although in this escape novel, money is the great equalizer, and the story ends with Paski dreaming of her own Mercedes. There is one well-scripted sex scene that stops short of intercourse-although not orgasms-but there are also talks among girlfriends as well as between Paski and her father about waiting for love and a preparatory trip to a Planned Parenthood clinic. The wide range of cultures creates a nice change from most young adult novels. Teen girls will love this book.
Myrna Marler
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KLIATT
This is chick-lit for high school girls, or more accurately, chica-lit. The names may be Hispanic, but the themes are familiar. Outsider girl Pasquala, age 16, a sleeping beauty, tries to make a place for herself in a new high school in affluent southern California. She doesn't want to be there, but her father, who is apparently experiencing a second childhood, has dragged her there. She is attracted to a god-like rich boy already claimed by the evil queen of the school social elite. "Paski" is interesting and different because she rides her bicycle like a trick pony, making it jump and buck, bouncing over hills and vales, and doing wheelies while shutting out the world by blasting music on her iPod. And, oh yes, she's psychic, like her grandmother, and has inconvenient visions, which she tries to disregard. Throw in that the evil social queen is a Vietnamese supermodel motocross champion, a few psychopathic flunkies, references to Japanese internment camps during WW II, stir the pot, and this entertaining story emerges. Paski's voice is breezy, adolescent, and somewhat Holden Caulfieldesque (she's attuned to what's phony and what's real, and she's also interested in losing her virginity to the right guy). The theme of being true to yourself and your own interests and going for the gold are always relevant to teens. However, like any romantic novel with a plucky heroine, credibility gets stretched to the limit in order to create a completely satisfying ending. But, hey, who says all literature has to be deep? KLIATT Codes: S*--Exceptional book, recommended for senior high school students. 2006, Little, Brown, 352p., $16.99.. Ages 15 to 18.
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-When her counter-culture artist dad makes a film deal for his comic strip, 16-year-old Paski moves from comfy Taos, NM, to Orange County, CA. Her down-to-earth lifestyle hasn't prepared her for the pace of money-conscious southern California, or for the perfect-looking, incredibly wealthy teenagers who rule the school. Here, she is discriminated against not for being Mexican American, but for her digs (a luxury apartment). During a raucous party, her escort slips a date-rape drug in her soda, and she is pushed into the pool by beautiful, popular, and unflinchingly ruthless Jessica, resulting in a hospital visit. Still, Paski can't ignore the sizzling attraction she feels toward Jessica's boyfriend or the persistent visions (it's the family gift) that she's been having of Jessica wiping out during a motocross race. Valdes-Rodriguez includes all of the snarky hip commentary and girl-friend focus that defined her titles for adults, packing in explicit descriptions of clothing, home d cor, and sex. Paski's first-person narrative is lively and honest, as she faces difficult situations and learns to trust her instincts. Her relationship with her permissive, doting father is described with humor and warmth. Basically, this is a chick-lit version of magical realism, as Paski, the golden Latina, uses her fabulous good looks, super mountain-biking skills, and psychic visions to arrive at the top of the heap.-Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, CO Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Confident, athletic and acutely psychic Paski must deal with a new world when her cartoonist father uproots her from sleepy Taos, N.M., moving to Orange County, Calif. Paski finds much there to enjoy, but can't avoid dealing with three popular girls who have money, looks and power and who hate her on sight. Worse, she's falling in love with the boyfriend of Jessica, leader of the pack. Even worse, Paski has enormous talent in motocross, the sport in which Jessica is the world famous national champion. As events unfold, Paski learns that people are not always as they seem, and that hatred can be deadly. The zippy prose and dialogue ring true, peppered with comic scenes involving Paski's insecure father. This first YA offering from veteran author Valdes-Rodriguez has the potential to reach a wide audience, although its length will discourage many reluctant readers who might otherwise enjoy it. (Fiction. YA)
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