The Bridesmaid

April 1, 2005
Gr 7-10 -Abby Beaumont knows all about weddings -they make ordinary women turn into "Bridezillas." After all, her parents own a catering hall, and she and her older sister have helped with these events all their lives. The girls have sworn they will never get married, but then Carol meets Tucker Robb. Everyone, except for Abby, enters into the planning with enthusiasm and excitement. But soon her family turns into the worst of customers, bickering over nearly every detail. The characterizations are first rate -Bridezilla herself, the "evil" mother of the bride, the "poor" fiancé , the "unlistened to" father, and the bratty younger sister. Add Abby's first boyfriend and the stage is set for a humorous view of family celebrations and relationships. The plot moves smoothly as the protagonist is inextricably drawn into the preparations, and into the role of bridesmaid. At times, she seems to be the only levelheaded member of the group, even as she sometimes appears to be subtly sabotaging the big day. A fun read with a surprise twist at the end." -Janet Hilbun, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2005
Gr. 6-9. Abby and Carol, whose parents run a hall used for wedding ceremonies and receptions, have seen the dark side of wedding planning and conclude that within every woman lurks Bridezilla. When Carol becomes engaged after her college graduation, she promises not to fall into that dreaded role, but 15-year-old Abby's wry, first-person narrative details her older sister's slow transformation into the familiar creature that they both loathe. Meanwhile, Abby's love life takes a hopeful turn, and she tries to decide whether to accept a soccer scholarship that will take her to Italy or stay at home and let the romance develop. Though a subplot involving the groom's suspected unfaithfulness is unconvincing from the start, the rest of the story unfolds in a thoroughly satisfying manner. The characters emerge as individuals whose actions are consistent with their well-defined personalities. Told in Abby's snappy voice, this fresh and often funny story shows a good understanding of family dynamics as well as the highs and lows of the wedding experience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2005
Abby's parents run a catering hall, and after witnessing so many "bridezillas," she makes a pact with her sister, Carol, to never marry. So when Carol announces she's getting married, Abby flips. Full of amusing details about wedding-planning chaos (some of it way over the top), the breakdown in family relationships is believably portrayed.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)