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Meet Felicia, 14-year-old student at the Manhattan Free Children’s School (also known as the Pound). In Felicia's world, she and her best friends, Jess and Kat, like to refer to themselves as the Sex Kittens, and the boys they know as the Horn Dawgs.
Felicia is getting tired of waiting for a Horn Dawg to notice her uniqueness, however. So she devises a project she and the object of her affection, Matthew the Science Brain, can work on together. Felicia is determined to discover the Secret of Love with Matthew while winning both Matthew’s heart and the science fair. But love has other plans.
(Doesn’t it always?)
Narrator Felicia has a crush on science-obsessed Matthew, so she proposes a science project for them to work on together: to "unmask the meaning of X" ("the thing that makes Love Work Out"). Of course, first Felicia must confess her feelings, but once she makes that leap, Matthew admits he "think[s] we could win the science fair with this one." The fast-paced, slang-driven narration in this debut novel takes a bit of getting used to (Felicia sprinkles the narrative with poems, friendship rules, known as Kitten Directives, and lots of capital letters) but, once hooked, readers will race along with the heroine as she and Matthew explore love's strange phenomena, such as "Romantic Setting" and "the Romeo/Juliet Thing." The 14-year-old's alternative New York City school provides plenty of other likeable, offbeat characters, such as a sitar teacher who reveals her personal love story in a Hindi love song. As Felicia watches other friends connect-and miss-she discovers that even she gives off her own brand of X. Readers may not be surprised about the pair's scientific conclusions, but they will certainly have a positive reaction to this fun, original plot. Ages 12-up. (Jan.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
More Reviews and RecommendationsMaryrose Wood grew up on Long Island and moved to New York City at seventeen. She currently lives in Manhattan with her two children, who are both remarkable even by New York standards.
This is her first novel, but Maryrose also writes for the theatre and film. Her work as a lyricist and librettist has won prestigious awards. These are nice, but are often presented at award ceremonies, for which it is very, very difficult to choose an outfit.
Maryrose has a cat but secretly prefers dogs, and does not ride her bike as often as she would like. She strives to live with the appropriate mix of coolness and whimsy, and suspects this may in fact be the golden road to happiness. She will let you know how it turns out.
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November 15, 2008:
SEX KITTENS AND HORN DAWGS FALL IN LOVE is a gossipy love story sure to please the tween and teen chick-lit crowd. Maryrose Wood takes the reader into the world of the New York City teen with her story about a group of students who attend the Manhattan Free Children's School.
Felicia narrates the story about her crush on a boy named Matthew, and her attempt to lure him in her direction. With the school's science fair as a backdrop, the two agree to join forces to discover the mysterious X-factor in what makes love work. Felicia actually confesses her crush to Matthew, hoping his scientific curiosity will force him to help her prove their relationship is meant to be. Can they use experiments and observation to scientifically prove what makes love happen?
Other parallel plots in the book help entertain the reader. There is Felicia's liberal-minded, bookstore-owning mother who is divorced from Felicia's now remarried father. Then there's Kat, a blossoming violinist who has a Russian accompanist who seems to forget her tender young age and develops a disturbing crush on her. If that's not enough, there's Randall, a closet martial arts student, who tries to fight his romantic feelings for Felicia. All these intertwined stories are told in Felicia's unique conversational style.
Although the title might disturb some adults, Wood's novel, written about young love, is humorous and harmless fun for teen readers.
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February 25, 2006: This is the coolest high school evuh! I wanna go there. These girls are FIERCE and the boys aren't bad either! You go, Felicia! This book is so real, so New York and so 'right this minute.'

Marijuana mentioned but not used, adults drink, teen are given champagne, though it turns out to be non-alcoholic
Toys, fast food, soda, store brands mentioned
Mild swearing and words such as slut, porno, buns, boobs, etc.
A gory movie is described, a girl is accidentally kicked in the face
Some kissing, discussion of sex appeal, and other age-appropriate stuff.
About Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love
Parents need to know that the most objectionable thing about this book is the title. Otherwise the content is relatively mild -- a little kissing, some off-color references, a little minor swearing.
Families can talk about the characters' research. What is the X-factor? What do you think makes one person like another? This can lead to retelling family stories: how mom and dad (and grandma and grandpa) first met and fell in love, first crushes, etc.