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Pratt Twins #5
Marshmallow Masquerade
Susan Pratt convinces her twin sister Christine to disguise herself as a boy and infiltrate the "enemy camp" at Whittington High to discover what boys talk about and how they think
- GenresYoung Adult
140 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 12, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 8, 2024
2.5 stars
super cheesy but really fun😏 she’s the man vibes
super cheesy but really fun😏 she’s the man vibes
August 26, 2018
...their joking conversation was about to launch the most daring, most intriguing, most delicious prank of the Pratt twins' mischievous career.
Teenaged twin sisters Christine and Susan Pratt, both baffled by boys, relish the thought of figuring out what makes boys tick. So Susan proposes that Chris disguise herself as a boy for a week and do some investigating in the camp of the opposite sex in Marshmallow Masquerade by author Cynthia Blair.
And what do marshmallows have to do with this? Well, it makes sense when you read it.
This is the third Pratt Twins book I've read since my preteens. After reading the first two books in this series, I expected the relatively simplistic, corny style here.
In fact, this one may be the corniest I've read so far. So many exclamation points, an overuse of italics, and cheesy, dramatic declarations that would drive me to facepalms if not for my glasses being in the way. A macho guy with overdone chauvinism, a big buffoonish bully who wants to beef and brawl over nothing, and a good guy who's practically bursting with all of his, well, goodness.
I could go on, and possibly confuse you all as to why I've rated this book with five stars. But as is always the case with me, I don't have to think a book is perfect to find it amazing.
There's just something so downright fun about the Pratt sisters' adventures. Also, like the first book in the series, this tale ties in meaningful points worth thinking about. Biological vs. traditional (made-up) differences between guys and girls. Gender-based assumptions we make about people's likes and dislikes without knowing those people as individuals. The games guys and girls play with each other, sometimes without a second thought, and the emotional effects those games can have. I didn't even have to fully agree with all of Chris's and Sooz's conclusions for their sentiments to get my own wheels turning.
In a way, this particular story is more Chris's than Susan's. But it's yet another Pratt Twins tale I absolutely ate up.
Teenaged twin sisters Christine and Susan Pratt, both baffled by boys, relish the thought of figuring out what makes boys tick. So Susan proposes that Chris disguise herself as a boy for a week and do some investigating in the camp of the opposite sex in Marshmallow Masquerade by author Cynthia Blair.
And what do marshmallows have to do with this? Well, it makes sense when you read it.
This is the third Pratt Twins book I've read since my preteens. After reading the first two books in this series, I expected the relatively simplistic, corny style here.
In fact, this one may be the corniest I've read so far. So many exclamation points, an overuse of italics, and cheesy, dramatic declarations that would drive me to facepalms if not for my glasses being in the way. A macho guy with overdone chauvinism, a big buffoonish bully who wants to beef and brawl over nothing, and a good guy who's practically bursting with all of his, well, goodness.
I could go on, and possibly confuse you all as to why I've rated this book with five stars. But as is always the case with me, I don't have to think a book is perfect to find it amazing.
There's just something so downright fun about the Pratt sisters' adventures. Also, like the first book in the series, this tale ties in meaningful points worth thinking about. Biological vs. traditional (made-up) differences between guys and girls. Gender-based assumptions we make about people's likes and dislikes without knowing those people as individuals. The games guys and girls play with each other, sometimes without a second thought, and the emotional effects those games can have. I didn't even have to fully agree with all of Chris's and Sooz's conclusions for their sentiments to get my own wheels turning.
In a way, this particular story is more Chris's than Susan's. But it's yet another Pratt Twins tale I absolutely ate up.
May 1, 2025
Marshmallow Masquerade (Updated)
Chris is venting to Holly about never understanding boys. Holly says she thought she was an expert on the subject. Chris says she thought she did too. Holly asks her what’s going on with her and Scott and she says absolutely nothing. Not for lack of trying. She just can’t get his attention no matter how many times she’s “accidently” (on purpose) bumped into him, or offered to help him in history. (Maybe you’re trying to hard and should just ignore him). It’s two weeks before Thanksgiving. Susan has also invited over a friend.
Chris says she was hoping Scott would ask her to the homecoming dance next Saturday. Holly tells her she can always go with Peter Blake-who has a crush on her- but Chris thinks he’s a nerd and all he talks about is bugs. (Chris, those are the ones that are the most faithful. Don’t be so quick to judge). Holly says maybe he has a girlfriend. Chris says she’s checked. He’s single. The only one he’s in love with is his basketball. Chris says maybe she’s just not his type or she’s losing her touch.
Chris says she’s on the verge of just giving it up and admitting it’s not meant to be (DO THAT!) Holly sees she and Hank aren’t doing so great either. They went out and now he’s giving her the cold shoulder. She thought they had a good time. Chris wonders out loud she wishes she knew what’s going on inside boys’ heads. Holly said it would be cool. She could school every girl. Holly says unfortunately tho that won’t happen.
But they’ll always have hot chocolate and marshmallows. Back upstairs Beth says at least they can get a date. She’s too shy to even talk to boys. Holly says it’s all a mind game. Susan says she wishes girls and guys could be more *direct* with each other. Beth wonders if they’re really so different. Their both humans. Chris asks then why do they have to make things so DIFFICULT! Susan says she’s just as baffled and admits to us (but not her twin, bff, and her twins bff) that she has a crush on Holly’s older brother (Micheal Anderson).
Chris says it bothers her that they aren’t supposed to call boys. Are they expected to just sit around and wait by the phone? Holly says and what if they don’t. (THEN YOU MOVE ON!) Beth says they need a spy. Holly says then they’ll be able to find out what they think of them (girls and them). Beth suggests the twins do it since they’re so good at pranks. The twins tho say it’s a little too risky. Holly makes a dumb analogy about boys being like marshmallows. Fun and sweet but what do they know about marshmallows. (rolling my eyes). She should have said they can be sweet but they’re also full of fluff).
Susan gets an idea the next day (when Chris imitates a boy). The best way to get to the bottom of how boys think is to be one. And Susan volunteers Chris. She can be their cousin who lives in a town that’s far off for a week. Susan gets Chris to agree by telling her she’ll be able to find out what Scott thinks about her. They’ll call their cousin “Charlie”. Susan names it “The Marshmallow Masquerade”.
Next is transforming Chris. They visit “The Men’s Den”. They pick some dark, loose, clothes. Chris notes that boys’ clothes are in colors like brown gray, and blue. (I’m sure there are more than that). Chris thinks they’re clothes are expressive enough. But the upside is they’re comfortable. Next Chris goes to the barbershop and gets a boy cut. Then they get Chris some glasses. (Cause hey it worked for Clark Kent, right?) Chris practices deepening her voice and they talk about the words to avoid and the things to talk about (sports). They talk about how to walk and sit and carry her books. Chris says she’s noticing that the differences so far are simple and learned. Susan and Chris have told there friends Chris is out with the flu and their cousin Charlie will be visiting them.
Mike and Holly offer Susan and “Charlie” a ride to school. Chris notices Holly flirting with “Charlie” until she finds out he own’t be around for long. Then she drops interest. Chris thinks about how she said she was interested in Hank and if automatically she was just one of those girls that flirted with every boy. But then again “she’s” that kind of girl and she didn’t even think she might hurt someone that way. She also notices Mike invites “Charlie” to shoot hoops and look at his basketball cards without knowing if he’s even interested in sports.
When they get to school, Holly rushes off to “pretend” to walk past Scott and ignore him when just minutes ago she was flirting with “Charlie”. Susan didn’t even realize she was flirting but says Holly was rude for rushing off. In homeroom, “Charlie” gets the attention of the bully Eddie and his two buddies Frank and Jimmy. Eddie gets in his face about his seat as if he has something to prove. He calls “Charlie” a wimp and after class tells him to stay out of his way. Everyone else basically accepts “Charlie” and doesn’t question him.
Chris sees her chance to talk to Scott at lunch. She finds out that while she thought she was being obvious, he’s been clueless to her attempts. Chris flubs her way through some sports talk and then Scott invites her over to his house. Chris is on cloud 9 the rest of the day. That is until she bumps into Eddie and his friends and he accuses her of stealing his pen. He says he wants to have it out with her on Friday. Chris thinks about having Charlie “disappear” but decides she won’t let Eddie bully her. Chris tells everything to Susan at Fozzy’s. Susan tells her maybe she should have just called Scott and asked him out. Weirdly at dinner Mr. and Mrs. Pratt don’t have any objections to this scheme and give them the green light to continue. (They already figured out something was up),
On Tuesday, Chris figures out Susan’s crush is Micheal and vows to find a way to hook them up. Tuesday is challenging because Chris has to take a gym class with the boys (and also Scott). Unfortunately they’re wrestling. Fortunately, the tee-shirt she’s given is baggy. Scott makes a sexist comment about it’s a good thing Charlie didn’t get the girl’s gym class because they’d probably be having a tea party. Luckily the class gets changed to gymnastics and since she’s a cheerleader not a problem. She notices how boys are geared toward sports and girls less active things. Even in cheerleading while the boys are playing the girls are encouraging them. Even the bars are set different. The girls are uneven. The boys are lined up at the same level.
After class tho, Chris hears some boys talking about how puny “Charlie” is and Scott says he’s glad he’s no competion. Chris wonders does he feel threatened. But then Pete Black defends him. She’s discovering there’s another side to Scott that’s not so attractive. On the flip side, Peter isn’t as bad as she thought. Chris goes to Scott’s. First of all, he’s ungrateful to his mother. When she asks if they’d like a snack and says she’s made chocolate chip cookies, he says not again. He makes a sexist remark when “Charlie” comments her mother’s cookies and says it’s not like she’s working (even tho she’s cooked, cleaned, and picked his brothers and took them to their friend’s house. He’s impatient when she asks if they’re good and Mrs. Stevens even says he doesn’t want her around when Chris asks her to sit down and have a snack with them.
When their alone he says the girls at school are too independent. They sign up for shop or mechanical drawing instead of sticking to cooking and sewing “the way they should”. They use the gym for girls basketball. There was even a girl named Katie that invited a boy to the Halloween Dance. Scott’s room is a pigsty. By this time Chris is ready to leave. Hank comes by. Hank says Susan is cool (when he finds out who “Charlie” is) and he might ask her to the Homecoming Dance. She digs further and finds out that he was dating Holly but he thought she was acting distant on there date and doesn’t know if she’s really into him. Scott says it’s because she didn’t kiss him. Chris says maybe she just doesn’t like to kiss boys she doesn’t really know.
Hank kind of considers this. Chris suggests he call her but then realizes it probably just as hard for boys to call girls because they might get rejected. Chris says again that he should call her. Hank says maybe he will. Chris asks if they know Beth and says she’s been thinking of acting her out. The boys call her “Princess Beth” and say she’s so stuck up she’d probably turn her nose up at him.
Chris decides she’ll bulk up and take Charlie on (despite Susan’s objections). Susan however, knows she has to think of a solution so this won’t happen. On Wednesday (Day 3) everything is going smoothly until 4rth period Study Hall. There are two girls acting up and flying paper airplanes. The teacher automatically blames “Charlie” and is about to send him to the principal’s office. Chris panics and thinks they’ll try to call Charlie’s old school, but Peter sticks up for him and says it wasn’t him and that he’d be willing to tell that to the principal.
Chris has lunch with Peter and his friend and they tell her she should see the Peter Blake Zoo (among the many sites of Whittington to visit). Chris agrees (which surprises Peter). When she does, Peter is more considerate of his mother and he and his family have to pitch in to help his mother out because she’s going back to school. Chris finds out tho Peter does feel pressure sometimes to like the things boys are supposed to like, he’d rather read or play chess, and his parents are ok with this and don’t put expectations on him. Chris is impressed with this, He knows who he is and is confident with being himself.
Chris asks if he has a girlfriend. He says no. He’ll just have to wait until he’s older to find a girl who appreciates him for who he is. He says he thinks Christine is different. Even tho she’s popular, underneath she’s sensitive and caring and has the courage to have her own mind. He asks how he knows he won’t run back and tell Chris and she says she won’t tell a soul. But she feels bad that because underneath she knows she’s exactly like the girls he described.
On Thursday, Chris decides to get to the bottom of if Scott is the one for her once and for all. Sussan confesses to Chris that she doesn’t know if who she’d like to go with is the least bit interested in going with her. Chris also has to figure out how she feels about Peter and do one more thing as a way of saying “thank you” for Susan.
She sees Peter in gym and thanks him for inviting her over. She tries to suggest him inviting Chris over but he says he doesn’t think she’d be interested. Chris notices Scott is looking at her strange in class and thinks oh no. He’s figured it out, but he wants to know how could he be friends with him and Peter Blake. Him being such a nerd and all. So, Chris asks what he thinks of her and Scott says she’s the kind of girl he’d be into. She asks what if he found out she’d never go out with him and wanted to go out with Peter Blake, She doesn’t wait for an answer and stomps off (not caring about his answer).
Chris gets Mike (who she notes is hesitant because he doesn’t know if Susan is interested) to call Susan and ask her to the dance. Chris decides not to fight Eddie (despite how it makes her look). Scott comes over and congratulates her. Scott invites “Charlie” and Susan to Fozzy’s but Chris turns it down and says there’s something else she has to do. Susan is surprised but Chris tells her Scott isn’t who she thought she was, but there’s someone else she might go to the dance with. He’s someone that’s been around for a while and he’s stolen her heart. And he’s not someone she’d think she’d fall for.
On the night of the dance, Susan is late. All the couples are supposed to meet up at the Pratts before the dance for snacks. Susan comes in with the same cut Christine got. Peter is surprised and happy that Chris asked him. Susan is surprised and pleased that Mike asked her and wonders if “Charlie” had anything to do with it. Holly and Hank go together and Beth and Dennis. They all agree they have “Charlie” to thank and the ones that knew him hope he’ll come back (Micheal, Hank, Holly).
My Thoughts
*Since this is an older book some of the things "Charlie" observed aren't quite an issue today. For example "the boy cut" was made very popular by Halle Berry and there are just as many women who wear their hair short these days as there are long. It's never even thought twice about.
*Also even though it's still considered feminine to wear the color pink, some men do wear pink and have no shame about their sexuality. Ok I haven't seen a lot of them walking down the street in pink attire but if they want I don't think it would be as questionable as it was when this book was written. They might get some looks but in the end of the day if their comfortable with what they choose it shouldn't matter and I think that was the point of the book.
*We shouldn't be pressured by so called gender rules to dictate who we are or how we live our lives. Today men don't even have to stay men if they don't want to as we can see watching the new Netflix series (Orange Is The New Black). So not only does society not dictate who and what we are, birth doesn't either in this day and age.
*Chris and Susan's parents by the way seem totally cool about all the pranks they pull.
*Another thing I thought was odd was when Chris decided to be a man that she had to stand up for herself and that meant having a fist fight with the school bully. Didn't happen but one of Susan's reasons for not having her do it was because she would have gotten all bloodied and bruised up and they wouldn't look like twins any more. Say what? She's concerned not that she'll get physically hurt but because it will mess up her appearance. This sounds a little out of character for Susan.
Rate: 7 Overall I liked the overall message of being who you are no matter what anyone else has to say about it and follow no one but you. I also like the idea of finding out what boys (men) guys really think about. So I give this book a
Chris is venting to Holly about never understanding boys. Holly says she thought she was an expert on the subject. Chris says she thought she did too. Holly asks her what’s going on with her and Scott and she says absolutely nothing. Not for lack of trying. She just can’t get his attention no matter how many times she’s “accidently” (on purpose) bumped into him, or offered to help him in history. (Maybe you’re trying to hard and should just ignore him). It’s two weeks before Thanksgiving. Susan has also invited over a friend.
Chris says she was hoping Scott would ask her to the homecoming dance next Saturday. Holly tells her she can always go with Peter Blake-who has a crush on her- but Chris thinks he’s a nerd and all he talks about is bugs. (Chris, those are the ones that are the most faithful. Don’t be so quick to judge). Holly says maybe he has a girlfriend. Chris says she’s checked. He’s single. The only one he’s in love with is his basketball. Chris says maybe she’s just not his type or she’s losing her touch.
Chris says she’s on the verge of just giving it up and admitting it’s not meant to be (DO THAT!) Holly sees she and Hank aren’t doing so great either. They went out and now he’s giving her the cold shoulder. She thought they had a good time. Chris wonders out loud she wishes she knew what’s going on inside boys’ heads. Holly said it would be cool. She could school every girl. Holly says unfortunately tho that won’t happen.
But they’ll always have hot chocolate and marshmallows. Back upstairs Beth says at least they can get a date. She’s too shy to even talk to boys. Holly says it’s all a mind game. Susan says she wishes girls and guys could be more *direct* with each other. Beth wonders if they’re really so different. Their both humans. Chris asks then why do they have to make things so DIFFICULT! Susan says she’s just as baffled and admits to us (but not her twin, bff, and her twins bff) that she has a crush on Holly’s older brother (Micheal Anderson).
Chris says it bothers her that they aren’t supposed to call boys. Are they expected to just sit around and wait by the phone? Holly says and what if they don’t. (THEN YOU MOVE ON!) Beth says they need a spy. Holly says then they’ll be able to find out what they think of them (girls and them). Beth suggests the twins do it since they’re so good at pranks. The twins tho say it’s a little too risky. Holly makes a dumb analogy about boys being like marshmallows. Fun and sweet but what do they know about marshmallows. (rolling my eyes). She should have said they can be sweet but they’re also full of fluff).
Susan gets an idea the next day (when Chris imitates a boy). The best way to get to the bottom of how boys think is to be one. And Susan volunteers Chris. She can be their cousin who lives in a town that’s far off for a week. Susan gets Chris to agree by telling her she’ll be able to find out what Scott thinks about her. They’ll call their cousin “Charlie”. Susan names it “The Marshmallow Masquerade”.
Next is transforming Chris. They visit “The Men’s Den”. They pick some dark, loose, clothes. Chris notes that boys’ clothes are in colors like brown gray, and blue. (I’m sure there are more than that). Chris thinks they’re clothes are expressive enough. But the upside is they’re comfortable. Next Chris goes to the barbershop and gets a boy cut. Then they get Chris some glasses. (Cause hey it worked for Clark Kent, right?) Chris practices deepening her voice and they talk about the words to avoid and the things to talk about (sports). They talk about how to walk and sit and carry her books. Chris says she’s noticing that the differences so far are simple and learned. Susan and Chris have told there friends Chris is out with the flu and their cousin Charlie will be visiting them.
Mike and Holly offer Susan and “Charlie” a ride to school. Chris notices Holly flirting with “Charlie” until she finds out he own’t be around for long. Then she drops interest. Chris thinks about how she said she was interested in Hank and if automatically she was just one of those girls that flirted with every boy. But then again “she’s” that kind of girl and she didn’t even think she might hurt someone that way. She also notices Mike invites “Charlie” to shoot hoops and look at his basketball cards without knowing if he’s even interested in sports.
When they get to school, Holly rushes off to “pretend” to walk past Scott and ignore him when just minutes ago she was flirting with “Charlie”. Susan didn’t even realize she was flirting but says Holly was rude for rushing off. In homeroom, “Charlie” gets the attention of the bully Eddie and his two buddies Frank and Jimmy. Eddie gets in his face about his seat as if he has something to prove. He calls “Charlie” a wimp and after class tells him to stay out of his way. Everyone else basically accepts “Charlie” and doesn’t question him.
Chris sees her chance to talk to Scott at lunch. She finds out that while she thought she was being obvious, he’s been clueless to her attempts. Chris flubs her way through some sports talk and then Scott invites her over to his house. Chris is on cloud 9 the rest of the day. That is until she bumps into Eddie and his friends and he accuses her of stealing his pen. He says he wants to have it out with her on Friday. Chris thinks about having Charlie “disappear” but decides she won’t let Eddie bully her. Chris tells everything to Susan at Fozzy’s. Susan tells her maybe she should have just called Scott and asked him out. Weirdly at dinner Mr. and Mrs. Pratt don’t have any objections to this scheme and give them the green light to continue. (They already figured out something was up),
On Tuesday, Chris figures out Susan’s crush is Micheal and vows to find a way to hook them up. Tuesday is challenging because Chris has to take a gym class with the boys (and also Scott). Unfortunately they’re wrestling. Fortunately, the tee-shirt she’s given is baggy. Scott makes a sexist comment about it’s a good thing Charlie didn’t get the girl’s gym class because they’d probably be having a tea party. Luckily the class gets changed to gymnastics and since she’s a cheerleader not a problem. She notices how boys are geared toward sports and girls less active things. Even in cheerleading while the boys are playing the girls are encouraging them. Even the bars are set different. The girls are uneven. The boys are lined up at the same level.
After class tho, Chris hears some boys talking about how puny “Charlie” is and Scott says he’s glad he’s no competion. Chris wonders does he feel threatened. But then Pete Black defends him. She’s discovering there’s another side to Scott that’s not so attractive. On the flip side, Peter isn’t as bad as she thought. Chris goes to Scott’s. First of all, he’s ungrateful to his mother. When she asks if they’d like a snack and says she’s made chocolate chip cookies, he says not again. He makes a sexist remark when “Charlie” comments her mother’s cookies and says it’s not like she’s working (even tho she’s cooked, cleaned, and picked his brothers and took them to their friend’s house. He’s impatient when she asks if they’re good and Mrs. Stevens even says he doesn’t want her around when Chris asks her to sit down and have a snack with them.
When their alone he says the girls at school are too independent. They sign up for shop or mechanical drawing instead of sticking to cooking and sewing “the way they should”. They use the gym for girls basketball. There was even a girl named Katie that invited a boy to the Halloween Dance. Scott’s room is a pigsty. By this time Chris is ready to leave. Hank comes by. Hank says Susan is cool (when he finds out who “Charlie” is) and he might ask her to the Homecoming Dance. She digs further and finds out that he was dating Holly but he thought she was acting distant on there date and doesn’t know if she’s really into him. Scott says it’s because she didn’t kiss him. Chris says maybe she just doesn’t like to kiss boys she doesn’t really know.
Hank kind of considers this. Chris suggests he call her but then realizes it probably just as hard for boys to call girls because they might get rejected. Chris says again that he should call her. Hank says maybe he will. Chris asks if they know Beth and says she’s been thinking of acting her out. The boys call her “Princess Beth” and say she’s so stuck up she’d probably turn her nose up at him.
Chris decides she’ll bulk up and take Charlie on (despite Susan’s objections). Susan however, knows she has to think of a solution so this won’t happen. On Wednesday (Day 3) everything is going smoothly until 4rth period Study Hall. There are two girls acting up and flying paper airplanes. The teacher automatically blames “Charlie” and is about to send him to the principal’s office. Chris panics and thinks they’ll try to call Charlie’s old school, but Peter sticks up for him and says it wasn’t him and that he’d be willing to tell that to the principal.
Chris has lunch with Peter and his friend and they tell her she should see the Peter Blake Zoo (among the many sites of Whittington to visit). Chris agrees (which surprises Peter). When she does, Peter is more considerate of his mother and he and his family have to pitch in to help his mother out because she’s going back to school. Chris finds out tho Peter does feel pressure sometimes to like the things boys are supposed to like, he’d rather read or play chess, and his parents are ok with this and don’t put expectations on him. Chris is impressed with this, He knows who he is and is confident with being himself.
Chris asks if he has a girlfriend. He says no. He’ll just have to wait until he’s older to find a girl who appreciates him for who he is. He says he thinks Christine is different. Even tho she’s popular, underneath she’s sensitive and caring and has the courage to have her own mind. He asks how he knows he won’t run back and tell Chris and she says she won’t tell a soul. But she feels bad that because underneath she knows she’s exactly like the girls he described.
On Thursday, Chris decides to get to the bottom of if Scott is the one for her once and for all. Sussan confesses to Chris that she doesn’t know if who she’d like to go with is the least bit interested in going with her. Chris also has to figure out how she feels about Peter and do one more thing as a way of saying “thank you” for Susan.
She sees Peter in gym and thanks him for inviting her over. She tries to suggest him inviting Chris over but he says he doesn’t think she’d be interested. Chris notices Scott is looking at her strange in class and thinks oh no. He’s figured it out, but he wants to know how could he be friends with him and Peter Blake. Him being such a nerd and all. So, Chris asks what he thinks of her and Scott says she’s the kind of girl he’d be into. She asks what if he found out she’d never go out with him and wanted to go out with Peter Blake, She doesn’t wait for an answer and stomps off (not caring about his answer).
Chris gets Mike (who she notes is hesitant because he doesn’t know if Susan is interested) to call Susan and ask her to the dance. Chris decides not to fight Eddie (despite how it makes her look). Scott comes over and congratulates her. Scott invites “Charlie” and Susan to Fozzy’s but Chris turns it down and says there’s something else she has to do. Susan is surprised but Chris tells her Scott isn’t who she thought she was, but there’s someone else she might go to the dance with. He’s someone that’s been around for a while and he’s stolen her heart. And he’s not someone she’d think she’d fall for.
On the night of the dance, Susan is late. All the couples are supposed to meet up at the Pratts before the dance for snacks. Susan comes in with the same cut Christine got. Peter is surprised and happy that Chris asked him. Susan is surprised and pleased that Mike asked her and wonders if “Charlie” had anything to do with it. Holly and Hank go together and Beth and Dennis. They all agree they have “Charlie” to thank and the ones that knew him hope he’ll come back (Micheal, Hank, Holly).
My Thoughts
*Since this is an older book some of the things "Charlie" observed aren't quite an issue today. For example "the boy cut" was made very popular by Halle Berry and there are just as many women who wear their hair short these days as there are long. It's never even thought twice about.
*Also even though it's still considered feminine to wear the color pink, some men do wear pink and have no shame about their sexuality. Ok I haven't seen a lot of them walking down the street in pink attire but if they want I don't think it would be as questionable as it was when this book was written. They might get some looks but in the end of the day if their comfortable with what they choose it shouldn't matter and I think that was the point of the book.
*We shouldn't be pressured by so called gender rules to dictate who we are or how we live our lives. Today men don't even have to stay men if they don't want to as we can see watching the new Netflix series (Orange Is The New Black). So not only does society not dictate who and what we are, birth doesn't either in this day and age.
*Chris and Susan's parents by the way seem totally cool about all the pranks they pull.
*Another thing I thought was odd was when Chris decided to be a man that she had to stand up for herself and that meant having a fist fight with the school bully. Didn't happen but one of Susan's reasons for not having her do it was because she would have gotten all bloodied and bruised up and they wouldn't look like twins any more. Say what? She's concerned not that she'll get physically hurt but because it will mess up her appearance. This sounds a little out of character for Susan.
Rate: 7 Overall I liked the overall message of being who you are no matter what anyone else has to say about it and follow no one but you. I also like the idea of finding out what boys (men) guys really think about. So I give this book a
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2021
The Pratt parents are either the best or the worst — I haven’t decided yet.
December 10, 2008
I really like this book it is truly an example of being a "fly on the wall" shows you that you should look on the inside not on the out!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews