A.J. is a photographer. A photographer who seems destined to suffer broken relationships for her art. Well, that's what she says. Her parents say it is more like she falls in love too easily and doesn't really look beyond the surface of the guys she dates. But this is A.J.'s senior year, and she is desperate to finally make it to the Valentine's Day dance with a boyfriend. She has struck out all 3 previous years. And she doesn't want just any boyfriend. She wants Peter Terris, school heartthrob. Of course, there's the little problems of Peter never noticing her and already having a girlfriend. But while driving home just nights before Valentine's Day, A.J. comes across a stuffed cupid in the road. She takes him home, thinking he might be just the cover material the school's newspaper needs. But that night the cupid comes to life, and tells A.J. he can help her with her art, or her academics or her love life. A.J. practically has to force that last one out of the unwilling cupid, but she does and he grudgingly shoots Peter, against his better judgment and with many warnings for A.J. that she needs to look deeper.As the magic starts to work, A.J. thinks all of her dreams have come true. Peter starts to notice her, and give her kisses, and chocolate, and flowers, and notes...but he seems rather shallow when they just try to talk and he will hardly even glance at her photographs. And A.J. realizes this may be her worst nightmare rather than her happily ever after.This is the first of Joan Bauer's books I've read with any fantasy elements and I believe it was one of her first books actually. The copyright pre-dates Hope Was Here. It has some of the typical Bauer elements but lacks the umph in the message. It actually came across as a little dated too (or I guess, as historical fiction). It was written in '95, and therefore, none of the characters have cell phones. This may make the story a little strange to some present day teens (wondering how Peter's mom gets on the line at one point, and why the characters have to remember phone numbers instead of just looking in cell phones). It still gets across a very important message to teens that relationships need to be based on more than the outer physical image, and crushes rarely are realistic. Notes on content: I don't remember any swearing. There's quite a bit of kissing and hugging, but nothing beyond that sexually. No violence, except Jonathan the cupid shooting things with arrows. Realistically, A.J. mentions high school students drinking alcoholic beverages in the school parking lot outside of the dance but she does not take part, and those who drink are portrayed as fake and people you wouldn't want to be.
A.J. is a funny, self-deprecating narrator. She has a crush on Peter, the most popular boy at school, who takes absolutely no notice of her at all. A.J. is the photographer for the school newspaper, and when she's given an assignment to provide a cover photo for the Valentine's Day issue, she goes searching for the perfect picture. Cupids are everywhere, but she wants something more artisitc. Then she finds a stuffed cupid doll in the street and takes it home. The next day, it's come to life. Of the three ways in the that Jonathan, the cupid, can help her - artistically, academically, or romantically - of course she chooses romantically. She wants Jonathan to shoot Peter Terris with one of his little arrows and make him fall in love with her. Well, we've all heard that old saying - be careful what you wish for. When A.J.'s wish comes true, her joy is short-lived. It's tiring and hard work being with someone who is fanatically devoted to you. In the end, A.J. learns about herself and about what she really needs in life to be happy. Her story was cute and amusing, though the characters were often a little frantic, always shouting or screeching. Like that wouldn't get tiring in real life. A lot of young girls out there need to learn the lessons A.J. learned.
What do You think about Thwonk (1996)?
Fun take on the be careful what you wish for theme. When avid photographer and aspiring art-student Allison Jean (AJ) McCreary is told she has one wish from a magical cupid figure she must choose between getting into the art-school of her dreams, rescuing a sinking GPA, or having the the hunk that she's currently crushing on. Against the advice of her miniature mentor AJ opts for romance and suddenly THWONK she's got the hottest guy at Benjamin Franklin High in loony tunes love with her. But have you ever noticed how there's always a catch? The girl soon realizes that snagging the hottest guy on campus isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when he's not the demi-god she'd romanticized him into. This is a short fun read and I was more than willing to keep flipping pages to get to the denouement everyone sort of expects in this type of story. This would probably make a great beach read but on some level I was wondering if the author wasn't just yanking our chain a bit. "They THINK they want a frothy light romantic wish fulfillment story without any heavy drama. Fine. Wish granted. NOW they'll learn to be careful what they wish for. Still and all, provided it's not a steady diet, this kinda thing can be fun when one's in the mood.
—Stephen
Para empezar, esa portada es lo contrario a esta novela. Esa portada indica que el libro es MUY infantil. Y no es asi. Es un libro juvenil, a secas. Con muchos cliches, malentendidos, malas elecciones y un final infeliz. No es un cuento para niños, por mucho que el secundario principal sea Cupido y vaya vestido ridiculamente.Para continuar, hace muchos años que lei este libro, y no, no me planteo releerlo, porque me decepcionó tanto que vendí mi ejemplar. Fue un libro aburrido e insípido con el que no conecté. Fue absolutamente decepcionante. No me acuerdo de nada de este libro, solo que ella era tan estupida como para estar enamorada de un capullo con el que no había interactuado nunca, y que Cupido y ella se enamoraban en el último instante, antes de que él cogiera su arco y su carcaj de flechas y se fuera. Vale, asi dicho suena MUY infantil. En verdad era una tonteria de libro.
—Mayu
In this cautionary tale, Allison Jean "AJ" McCreary learns to the importance of being careful what you wish for. When her parents go out of town, aspiring photographer AJ gets a surprise visit from her own personal cupid. Soon Allison learns that her cupid (Jonathan) can give her the one thing she has been wanting forever, her dream date to the King of Hearts dance. When Johnathan makes the most popular guy in school fall in love (or scary obsession) with AJ, she soon begins seeing things in a whole new light (and lighting is very important when you're into photography). Soon AJ regrets her choice and wishes to undo it, but it might be too late and even her own personal cupid might not be able to help her...This was a light fun read that many female YA readers will enjoy. It was only Bauer's second novel (Squashed was first) and that is pretty apparent in the character development and plot. The characters were one-dimensional and the storyline was predictable. Personally I found AJ's mom and her cafe to be the most interesting part of the novel. I did love AJs passion for her photography and her discussion of her parents' relationship. Plus, who hasn't wished for a cupid or genie to appear knowing we probably wouldn't wish for the right things?
—Melanie
