ttyl (Talk to You Later) (Internet Girls Series #1) by Lauren Myracle

From the Publisher

The runaway bestseller now in paperback!

An epistolary novel for the 21st century, this sharp, funny, and true-to-life breakout hit about friendship is told entirely in instant messages. And Internet-savvy teens have fallen in love with flirty Angela (SnowAngel), moody Maddie (mad maddie), and good girl Zoe (zoegirl) and their frank perceptions about a tumultuous tenth-grade semester. Now perfectly priced for its audience, the paperback is being released alongside Myracle's brand-new hardcover novel, Rhymes with Witches.

Author Bio: In addition to ttyl, Lauren Myracle is the author of three other novels, including her latest, Rhymes with Witches. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College and lives in Colorado.

Publishers Weekly

Myracle's (Kissing Kate) approach is creative, even if her newest novel is somewhat formulaic: three best friends hash out their lives-from new relationships to conflicts with one another-through instant messages. As they start 10th grade, social Angela catches her new boyfriend on a date with another girl; tough Maddie is befriended, then humiliated, by a popular girl; and "good little Zoe" finds herself crushing on a teacher-who seems to be interested in her, too. Though the main characters and the plotting seem familiar, readers will appreciate Myracle's portrayal of the supportive friends: they listen to one another, plan a surprise party and a road trip, and when Maddie is low, Angela and Zoe make her a care package with a poem that Angela calls "mushy but not 2 mushy." Their messages at times contain too much plotting to seem like realistic chats, but the style makes for an engaging, quick read. Flourishes such as emoticons and Internet lingo add realism; the book's title translates to "talk to you later," and Angela adds stage direction to her messages, writing "*stomps foot*" (when she believes Maddie is withholding information) or "*jumps up and down and squeals*" (when Zoe promises her a makeover). As might be expected, there is a falling-out among the friends. But while Maddie's reaction when she catches Angela and Zoe discussing her behind her back seems too extreme, readers will cheer their reunion, which happens just as Zoe's teacher makes his move. Ages 13-17. (Apr.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Karen Leggett - Children's Literature

It would seem like a perfect and creative premise for a new young adult novel: write a story entirely in the popular, abbreviated "language" of instant messaging. Hundreds of thousands of American teenagers "IM" each other everyday, carrying on live, written conversations via computer. So Lauren Myracle wrote her entire story about three tenth grade girls entirely in instant messages. Even the title follows the pattern—"ttyl" means "talk to you later." The problem is that there is no relief from the shallow, expletive-laden conversation. Constant, abbreviated dialogue leaves no room for thoughtful introspection, probing conversation, character development or even action—only electronic conversation about action, and nearly all of the action discussed relates to sex, anatomy, boys and figuring out how to lie to "the rents" (parents). While ostensibly trying to hold their friendship together through high school, the three girls are disrespectful toward each other, their peers and virtually all adults. Perhaps there are many teens who will identify with mad maddie, SnowAngel and zoegirl. One hopes there are many more who will not. 2004, Amulet, Ages 16 up.

Rebecca Moreland, Teen Reviewer - VOYA

In ttyl Myracle shows the hardships of three girls' high school lives. As a younger student, I cannot relate to the problems that Angela, Zoe, and Maddie have to endure, and I think that girls in grades eight through eleven or twelve will like this book more. Girls in those grades would be able to more easily connect with Angela, Zoe, or Maddie in at least one aspect of their lives. VOYA Codes 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2004, Amulet Books/Harry N. Abrams, 224p., Ages 11 to 15.

Melissa Moore - Alan Review

TTYL (Instant Messaging for "talk to you later") follows the relationships of three 10th-graders— Angela (SnowAngel), Maddie (mad maddie), and Zoe (zoegirl). They've been best friends since seventh grade and are determined to weather the storms of their sophomore year together, including potential boyfriends, driver's license tests, a too-friendly English teacher, and social cliques. Their story is told through Instant Messages between the three girls (including emoticons, Net lingo, and even stage directions like *shoots daggers with eyes*), so dialogue essentially carries the action of the story. Fortunately, Myracle pulls off three distinct characters and voices (Angela, who always has a crush; Maddie, who wants so badly to be accepted by the in-crowd; and Zoe, the sheltered good girl who's tired of being good). Conflicts happen within and without the circle, but mutual respect and loyalty win out. TTYL will appeal to teenage girls who can relate to both the format and the struggles experienced by Myracle's friends. Several expletives and references to sex and anatomy, though appropriate in the context, may be a point of consideration for some libraries. 2004, Amulet Books, 209 pp., Ages young adult.

Claire Rosser - KLIATT

This novel claims to be the first written entirely in email messages. The novelty of that, especially for teenagers who communicate with their friends everyday through e-mail and instant messages, has a certain appeal. Reading it may make you feel that you are reading a screenplay since it is all dialog. Of course, the e-mailese of ttyl (talk to you later), u r (you are), with the little faces and so forth, can be maddening for some readers. The substance of the story is the friendship of three girls who have been close for years. Now, they are in high school, sometimes going separate ways, but trying to stay supportive. One crisis they face is when Maddie has too much to drink at a fraternity party and dances topless. Photographs of her doing this are circulating through the high school and Maddie is humiliated and cuts herself off from even her best friends. Zoe, the goody two-shoes of the three, gets into a strange relationship with a teacher, who is also the mentor for an evangelical Christian group. She has a hard time saying no because she is basically such an obedient girl, and it's the wild girl Maddie who saves her from this lecherous man. Note that there is somewhat raunchy language throughout, perfectly believable in the context. There will surely be an audience of teenage girls for this YA novel by the author of Kissing Kate. KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, Abrams, Amulet, 209p., Ages 12 to 18.

School Library Journal

Gr 8-10-Three high school sophomores, lifelong best friends, are now facing a variety of emotional upsets in their personal and social lives. Angela is boy crazy and emotive, but able to lend support to her friends when they need it. Zoe is the quietest and most self-effacing, considered by some to be a goody two-shoes but in fact headed full speed into a very dangerous relationship. Madigan is the hothead, less certain of how to grow up than she allows anyone, including herself, to see. The entire narrative is composed of the instant messages sent among these three, from September into November, as they each get involved with dating, sort out how to have friendships with others, cope with disasters that range from wardrobe issues to getting drunk, and offer one another advice and defiance. Each character's voice is fully realized and wonderfully realistic in spite of the very limiting scope of the IM device. Page layout mimics a computer screen and each girl IMs in a different font and in her own unique verbal style. (The title is IM jargon for "talk to you later"). Myracle not only sustains all this but also offers readers some meaty-and genuine-issues. Both revealing and innovative, this novel will inspire teens to pass it to their friends and will suggest to nascent writers that experimenting with nonnarrative communication can be a great way to tell a story.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Told entirely in instant messages, this modern epistolary tale prompts both tears and LOL (laughing out loud). Best buds SnowAngel (Angela), zoegirl (Zoe), and mad maddie (Maddie) IM with one another constantly when not in school. Tenth grade is tough, with obnoxious trendy classmates, unfair parents, and sex. Friends can help each other get through the year, but only if they manage to stay together. Angela flits through a series of rotten boyfriends, Zoe discovers Christianity while becoming disturbingly close to her English teacher, and Maddie befriends the class bad girl. Since cynical Maddie can't cope with Zoe's emerging faith, and trusting Zoe won't see anything wrong in her growing relationship with Mr. H., the trio might not survive. But best friends are always there for each other, and a series of emergencies pushes them further apart and then brings them back together, closer than ever. After a slow start due to the unusual format (a glossary would probably help), this develops into a surprisingly poignant tale of friendship, change, and growth. Perfectly contemporary. ROTFL. (Fiction. YA)

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