All You Never Wanted
Gr 9 Up-Things were not great when their parents divorced, but at least Alex and Thea had each other. Then their mother met Arthur, and now they are even losing the strong sisterly bond they once shared. Sudden, extreme wealth has changed everything, including their self-perceptions. Beautiful, socially at ease, and effortlessly popular Alex is now starving herself and has developed a stifling phobia of going out in public. Meanwhile, Thea, once a determined academic, is doggedly pursuing the social status formerly enjoyed by her older sister. She is transforming her gift for creative writing into orally spun lies about her family and classmates to win the attention of her sister's friends and boyfriend. Both girls are aware of how their lives are spinning out of control, but they are too absorbed in their own problems to help each other. With their mother and stepdad away for the weekend, Thea plans the party of the year, hoping to finally capture her place in the spotlight, but the event ultimately winds up pitting the sisters against each other. Telling the story through their alternating voices, Griffin drives her plot through the intricate development of her two main characters. While the negative side of wealth is a primary theme, it is by no means the only issue. Loss of bodily control, anorexia, social phobia, sibling rivalry, and compulsive lying are all explored as each girl's story unfolds. An excellent choice for teen girls' discussion groups.-Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VAα(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.