Katie

Wishing Star #8

by Deborah Aydt

Katie can’t seem to fit in anywhere! Her mother promised she’d never remarry…until she met Ben Baxter! Her best friend, Bessie, is always talking about her great boyfriend, but will never let Katie meet him! And then there’s Robert. Katie really likes Robert but she isn’t ready to be so serious. If only he wouldn’t expect so much! At least her diet is really working. She hardly has to eat anything anymore... It’s so easy, and it’s her own private secret. Her mother is so involved in her upcoming marriage she hasn’t even noticed until the terrible accident when Katie winds up in the hospital!

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Reading with Cats · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was...a lot going on in this short novel. A parent’s remarriage, a grandparent’s failing health, negotiating a relationship with a step-parent, bulimia, first love, fake boyfriends, and near death experiences. Plus, our heroine Katie is a nasty, selfish piece of work. All this adds up to a one-star mess of a read. But plus one star for the Santa Fe setting!

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this one on the street, along with a Sweet Dreams title that I will read next. I am guessing that a nostalgic 30-something-year-old finally decided to cull some dead weight from her bookshelves that she really should have gotten rid of long ago.

Luckily, these were saved from the elements by another nostalgic 30-something-year-old, because I highly doubt any girl who legitimately falls within YA age range today would go near these books. The cover models are the definition of 80s teen chic - this is slightly before my time, but the anvil-heavy hand with the eyeshadow and blush is recognizable to anyone who came of age within a 10-year radius of that fashion nadir. The curlicued font is also a nice touch, but let's get real: the prize goes to the single tear frozen mid-roll down our girl Katie's left cheek. Ah, so great.

Sadly, the inside was not nearly as amusing as its cover. I've never heard of the Wishing Star series, but based on this sample I will venture a guess that its mission statement has something to do with tackling all the major teen problems of the capped-up sort: Eating Disorders, Parent's Remarriage, Grandparent's Probable Dementia, etc. etc. Terrible writing, flat characterization and overwrought narration is par for the course for any teen series, I know, but it bears mentioning here because Katie is really atrocious even by these standards.

The worst crime is to be boring when trading in such heavy, sexy issues. Katie, you are nearly the worst. I will give you one star for your cover having brought me to a laughing stop in the middle of the street. Here's hoping "Ask Annie" is a bit more worthwhile.

[Mell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This teen read was as serious one. The book called Katie's problem anorexia, but it was really bulimia. It was pretty detailed in describing the massive amount of food she ate to make her grandma happy, only to force herself to purge it later. She finally gets caught (maybe at a hospital?) and addresses the problem.

[Cerena]

this book is about a teenager name katie who has a best friend name bessie who has a imaginary boyfriend name micheal and theres a boy who she likes name robert and katie doesnt like the way she looks so she stops eating to get skinnier