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My Life as a Rhombus
Staying on track at school means a boy-free equation for Rhonda Lee, who spends most evenings doing homework and eating Chinese takeout with her dad. While Rhonda needs a scholarship for college, some kids at her private high school, like beautiful Sarah Gamble, seem to coast along on popularity and their parents' money.
When forced to tutor Sarah in trigonometry, Rhonda recognizes all too well the symptoms-queasiness, puking, exhaustion-that Sarah is trying to mask. On a sudden impulse, Rhonda shares her past with Sarah. Exchanging their secrets adds up to more truths than either girl would have dreamed.
When forced to tutor Sarah in trigonometry, Rhonda recognizes all too well the symptoms-queasiness, puking, exhaustion-that Sarah is trying to mask. On a sudden impulse, Rhonda shares her past with Sarah. Exchanging their secrets adds up to more truths than either girl would have dreamed.
312 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2007
13 people are currently reading
963 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 16, 2012
The story of Rhonda Lee is one I feel many teenagers can identify with—at 14, she got pregnant and had an abortion. Because she’s an only child and her mother died when she was 11, her father is left with the task of making the decision for Rhonda that she should end the pregnancy. He wants her to concentrate on her grades, and stay clear of boys. And for three years, that’s exactly what she does. But suddenly, she’s asked to tutor one of the rich, snobby cheerleaders (the exact kind of people her father wants her to stay away from because the boy who got her pregnant is “one of them”), and her life changes. The rich, snobby cheerleader, Sarah, is pregnant and alone, and she and Rhonda become friends.
But it’s not just the friendship with Sarah that has Rhonda’s father nervous. Rhonda has also befriended Sarah’s brother, David, and the two eventually start dating and fall in love. My Life as a Rhombus is a teenage struggle story, intertwined with a teenage love story, and although it touches on topics relevant to teenagers today, I felt the characters were not genuine. The sudden friendship between Rhonda and Sarah, and the attraction David has for Rhonda, were especially difficult for me to believe. And because this happened within the first few pages of the novel, I had a tough time comprehending the rest of the story.
In addition to not being able to identify with the characters, the writing was poor, and this made the book even more difficult to read. Most significant was the use of the word “that” instead of “who” when referring to a person. For example, “…notice all of the half-drunk, half-naked girls THAT were wrapping…” and “…she didn’t look like a girl THAT had failed…” This grammatical error was prevalent throughout the novel, not just in the narration of the story, but also in the dialog between the characters. The voices of the characters also felt, at times, not genuine, as though they were robots talking rather than people.
Although a good enough story, reading My Life as a Rhombus was like reading a first draft novel—too many grammatical errors, overuse of adverbs, tons of cliques, boring descriptions of people and places, and characters who were difficult to believe.
But it’s not just the friendship with Sarah that has Rhonda’s father nervous. Rhonda has also befriended Sarah’s brother, David, and the two eventually start dating and fall in love. My Life as a Rhombus is a teenage struggle story, intertwined with a teenage love story, and although it touches on topics relevant to teenagers today, I felt the characters were not genuine. The sudden friendship between Rhonda and Sarah, and the attraction David has for Rhonda, were especially difficult for me to believe. And because this happened within the first few pages of the novel, I had a tough time comprehending the rest of the story.
In addition to not being able to identify with the characters, the writing was poor, and this made the book even more difficult to read. Most significant was the use of the word “that” instead of “who” when referring to a person. For example, “…notice all of the half-drunk, half-naked girls THAT were wrapping…” and “…she didn’t look like a girl THAT had failed…” This grammatical error was prevalent throughout the novel, not just in the narration of the story, but also in the dialog between the characters. The voices of the characters also felt, at times, not genuine, as though they were robots talking rather than people.
Although a good enough story, reading My Life as a Rhombus was like reading a first draft novel—too many grammatical errors, overuse of adverbs, tons of cliques, boring descriptions of people and places, and characters who were difficult to believe.
February 16, 2013
***** SPOILER WARNING *****
I wanted to like this book because of it's initial appeal to me:
1) The catchy name of the title caught my attention.
2) An interesting beginning where the protagonist Rhonda explains what happened to her as a freshman in mathematical terms:
Questions They Never Ask on the SAT
A very smart, attention-starved freshman (subject X) falls for the most popular guy in her class (subject Y). If X and Y date for at least three months, which of the following extra-curricular activities is X most likely to be involved in?
A: Backseat anatomy lessons, clothing optional.
B: Accuracy and precision experiments involving peeing onto a little plastic stick.
C: Two-hour biology lectures from a very disappointed father.
D: Field trips across state lines for "routine" medical procedures.
E: Proving the statistical fallacy of the statement, "It can't happen to me."
Notes: More than one answer may apply.
3) The story is set in Columbia, SC, my hometown.
So, given all that, I had relatively high hopes. While the basic premise was good there were too many minor things that when they're added up caused me to downgrade it to **.
In her freshman year, Rhonda dated, got impregnated by, and ditched by the star basketball player, who is a rich obnoxious troll. He denies responsibility and throws money at her to "take care of it." But because his father is physically abusive to him and expects perfection, she "protects" his reputation and tells no one about getting pregnant (and prevents her dad from opening a can of whupass on him).
She blames her dad for "forcing" her to get an abortion and he becomes an overbearing tyrant, constantly harping on the past and accusing her of imagined misdeeds. He's never hugged or kissed her since the incident and is focusing all his affection on the much younger woman he is now dating. So her home life is pretty crappy.
Ever since then she has faded into the background. She is now a Senior and is totally invested in winning a full-ride scholarship to Georgia Tech for their mechanical engineering program. Guys are trouble to be avoided (one guess where this is heading...).
She is math tutoring younger kids after school when she is assigned to assist snob classmate Sarah. She refuses until she finds out that Sarah's mother (a State Supreme Court Judge) is a Georgia Tech engineering alumnae who may be able to pull strings to get her the scholarship she needs. She also almost immediately figures out that Sarah is pregnant and in the same situation she was in as a freshman. Sarah also has a very hunky brother, but he's a basketball teammate of Rhonda's impregnator, so she decides immediately that he has to be a horndog as well.
There were some good parts to the story such as Sarah agonizing over whether to get an abortion like Rhonda or not (she gets to the clinic in Atlanta and changes her mind). The eventual blow-up scene between Rhonda and her dad was good. He essentially accuses her of being a slut because she's now dating another basketball player. He refuses to believe nothing has happened between them because he knows she won't be able to keep her legs shut, so he tells she has to get on the pill. She goes into her room, brings the package back and throws it at him, and tells him he's so clueless that she's been on the pill for 3 years now and if she's such a slut why hasn't she had sex in all that time she's had protection? Touche!
However, the things that drove down my rating:
1) the lack of affection between any of the characters. Dad can't touch his daughter, but is constantly draped over his girlfriend, and always assumes the worst about Rhonda. She is equally strident when dealing with dad, hates the girlfriend, and is judgemental about David because he's also a basketball player. Sarah and her mother can only scream at each other. David has serious anger management and control issues. Gail is a megabitch who Rhonda questions why she's her best friend, etc etc etc.
2) the Judge as a puppetmaster was too much for me. First, there were
the coincidences that she'd also had an abortion at 14 and had gone onto engineering at Ga Tech (exactly mirroring Rhonda). It was her plan all along to get an engineering degree and then go to law school, which seems contrived to meet the needs of the plot. She's certainly not honorable in misusing her power to get what she wants. For example, she (illegally) gets a copy of Rhonda's school records so she can decide if she's an appropriate tutor for Sarah. She points out that she is a personal friend of the Ga Tech President and if Rhonda doesn't do what she wants then her scholarship hopes can go away with a phone call (don't know what Ga Tech folks would think about the implication that their President is that sleezy).
3) the abortion records incident was too ludicrous to be believeable. Somehow a Judge in South Carolina is able to work around HIPPA and clinics' zealous guarding of patient records to throw it in Rhonda's face that she knows she got an abortion in Atlanta, GEORGIA 3 years ago? That's when the story jumped the shark for me.
4) this may seem petty, but there was a total lack of local scenery descriptions and landmarks in the story. When you read Pat Conroy you actually feel like you're in Charleston. Even if the author is making up the town of East Podunk, Iowa they'll have some kind of descriptions (main steet, local diner, shops) to give you some perceptions of the setting. There was nothing in the story about Columbia, SC other than a couple of peripheral references to USC. It could have equally been set in Columbias in CA, MD, MO,NJ among others and you woundn't know the difference.
I wanted to like this book because of it's initial appeal to me:
1) The catchy name of the title caught my attention.
2) An interesting beginning where the protagonist Rhonda explains what happened to her as a freshman in mathematical terms:
Questions They Never Ask on the SAT
A very smart, attention-starved freshman (subject X) falls for the most popular guy in her class (subject Y). If X and Y date for at least three months, which of the following extra-curricular activities is X most likely to be involved in?
A: Backseat anatomy lessons, clothing optional.
B: Accuracy and precision experiments involving peeing onto a little plastic stick.
C: Two-hour biology lectures from a very disappointed father.
D: Field trips across state lines for "routine" medical procedures.
E: Proving the statistical fallacy of the statement, "It can't happen to me."
Notes: More than one answer may apply.
3) The story is set in Columbia, SC, my hometown.
So, given all that, I had relatively high hopes. While the basic premise was good there were too many minor things that when they're added up caused me to downgrade it to **.
In her freshman year, Rhonda dated, got impregnated by, and ditched by the star basketball player, who is a rich obnoxious troll. He denies responsibility and throws money at her to "take care of it." But because his father is physically abusive to him and expects perfection, she "protects" his reputation and tells no one about getting pregnant (and prevents her dad from opening a can of whupass on him).
She blames her dad for "forcing" her to get an abortion and he becomes an overbearing tyrant, constantly harping on the past and accusing her of imagined misdeeds. He's never hugged or kissed her since the incident and is focusing all his affection on the much younger woman he is now dating. So her home life is pretty crappy.
Ever since then she has faded into the background. She is now a Senior and is totally invested in winning a full-ride scholarship to Georgia Tech for their mechanical engineering program. Guys are trouble to be avoided (one guess where this is heading...).
She is math tutoring younger kids after school when she is assigned to assist snob classmate Sarah. She refuses until she finds out that Sarah's mother (a State Supreme Court Judge) is a Georgia Tech engineering alumnae who may be able to pull strings to get her the scholarship she needs. She also almost immediately figures out that Sarah is pregnant and in the same situation she was in as a freshman. Sarah also has a very hunky brother, but he's a basketball teammate of Rhonda's impregnator, so she decides immediately that he has to be a horndog as well.
There were some good parts to the story such as Sarah agonizing over whether to get an abortion like Rhonda or not (she gets to the clinic in Atlanta and changes her mind). The eventual blow-up scene between Rhonda and her dad was good. He essentially accuses her of being a slut because she's now dating another basketball player. He refuses to believe nothing has happened between them because he knows she won't be able to keep her legs shut, so he tells she has to get on the pill. She goes into her room, brings the package back and throws it at him, and tells him he's so clueless that she's been on the pill for 3 years now and if she's such a slut why hasn't she had sex in all that time she's had protection? Touche!
However, the things that drove down my rating:
1) the lack of affection between any of the characters. Dad can't touch his daughter, but is constantly draped over his girlfriend, and always assumes the worst about Rhonda. She is equally strident when dealing with dad, hates the girlfriend, and is judgemental about David because he's also a basketball player. Sarah and her mother can only scream at each other. David has serious anger management and control issues. Gail is a megabitch who Rhonda questions why she's her best friend, etc etc etc.
2) the Judge as a puppetmaster was too much for me. First, there were
the coincidences that she'd also had an abortion at 14 and had gone onto engineering at Ga Tech (exactly mirroring Rhonda). It was her plan all along to get an engineering degree and then go to law school, which seems contrived to meet the needs of the plot. She's certainly not honorable in misusing her power to get what she wants. For example, she (illegally) gets a copy of Rhonda's school records so she can decide if she's an appropriate tutor for Sarah. She points out that she is a personal friend of the Ga Tech President and if Rhonda doesn't do what she wants then her scholarship hopes can go away with a phone call (don't know what Ga Tech folks would think about the implication that their President is that sleezy).
3) the abortion records incident was too ludicrous to be believeable. Somehow a Judge in South Carolina is able to work around HIPPA and clinics' zealous guarding of patient records to throw it in Rhonda's face that she knows she got an abortion in Atlanta, GEORGIA 3 years ago? That's when the story jumped the shark for me.
4) this may seem petty, but there was a total lack of local scenery descriptions and landmarks in the story. When you read Pat Conroy you actually feel like you're in Charleston. Even if the author is making up the town of East Podunk, Iowa they'll have some kind of descriptions (main steet, local diner, shops) to give you some perceptions of the setting. There was nothing in the story about Columbia, SC other than a couple of peripheral references to USC. It could have equally been set in Columbias in CA, MD, MO,NJ among others and you woundn't know the difference.
May 29, 2010
What i've learned from this book is that, you go through many obsticles in life and some may take a whuile to get over. But as you go on you begin to let yourself overcome the problems you've delt with for most of your life and move on and never let the same problem get you again. Just like Rhonda in this book! She inspires me to be different and to keep going and reach my goals. Rhonda delt with the worst prblem there is to deal with while in high school and also at such a young age. in the begining of her freshman year she met a guy, that came from a whealthy background. He was stuck up and only wanted what every other teenage boy would want from a girl. Sooner or later Rhonda fell in love with him and fell for everyone of his lies. They began to be sexually active and eventually began to ditch lunch just for "quickies". Not too much later he broke up with her and it killed her because she was so in love. After the brake up, Rhonda found out she was pregnat. So was Very afraid and alone. Especially after her father found out. Once she told Christoper (Her Ex) he just went on and let her know he wanted nothing to do with it, and claimed it wasn't even his. So he gave her money to get an abortion. An abortion is not something that Rhonda wanted but her dad told her that it would be the best thing to do because she wasn't responsible enough at the time to take care of a child. So, she did it. After the procedure and now that she's thinking back she realizes that having that procedure done wasn't the right thing to do and she blames her dad for convincing her to get it done. She and her father hadn't had the same relationship as before after she had the abortion. They also don't like to use the "A" Word (Abortion). Three years later Rhonda becomes a totally different person, she gets straight A's and plans to gget a scholarship to Georgia Tech University. She's one of the smartest kids in Piedmont High, along with her two bestfriends Xavier and Gail. Rhaonda tutors others at a center, but she has this thing where she donsen't tutor high school students! One day A girl named Sarah Gamble comes along for tutoring, Rhonda argues with her boss telling him she dosen't want to tutor a high school student especially a rich stuck up girl. She's hated rich stuck up kids ever since what happened with her and christopher. Eventually she gave in to tutoring her because her boss told her how Sarah's Mother was Justice Gamlble. And she had graduated from Geiorgia Tech University, so therefore Rhonda would maybe be getting herslef into a recomendation letter fomr her if she does well with Sarah! So It's been weeks since Rhondas been tutoring Sarah and she's actually improving. They had to move it to a more private place like Sarah's house because of Sarah's mother not wanting anyone to know about her daughter being tutored. Eventually Sarah and Rhonda become friends. Sarah has a big secret herself, she tells Rhonda she's pregnat. They take a trip to atlanta because Sarah was wanting to get an abortion. But as the time passed Sarah didn't get it. She decided to keep the baby because she thought getting an abortion was a mistake. So her brother David that protects Sarah finds out and, the next day Sarah tells her Mother. Her Mother flipped out and syggested she'd get an abortion right away. But as strong as Sarah is she refused. When Justice Gamble found out Rhonda knew the whole time she called Rhonda in to her office and they had a talk. She told Rhonda that if she didn't convince Sarah to get an abortion she would no longer write her recomendation letter for her. Rhonda refused and told her it was Sarah's desicion on if she wanted to terminate the pregnacy of not. So Rhonda oened up only getting a partcial scholarship to Georgia Tech instead of a full one. Rhonda also finally left her poast behind and took on a knew boyfriend (Sarah's Brother David). He got her through many obsticles and made her realize many things she was too blind to see. Rhonda and her dad Gained their relationship back. Everything began to go in the right direction for Rhonda. She Kept on with her life and just wanted to see where it would take her. And for the rest, well you'll just have to read the book now wouldn't you! :)
-Samantha Luna
-Samantha Luna
June 16, 2010
I have never read a book by Varian Johnson, he writes about a tough subject using a steely female protagonist, Rhonda, who has made mistakes and as a result, changed her way of life, friends, etc for the nex few years. Now she is a senior and she tutors at a community college, stays away from guys (they only lie to you anyway)and will do almost anything to get a scholarship to Georgia Tech. Along the way, she begins to tutor rich, beautiful Sarah Gamble (one of the kinds of friends Rhonda stays away from) and finds they have some things in common. Rhonda is one tough chick but you understand why, but it is her mother's best friend, Helen, who really forces Rhonda to think about why she continues to push people away; her father and Sarah's brother David. Teens will love this book, it has drama, humor and romance and lots of reality, recommended for reluctant readers too! A great, satisfying read the keeps you turning the pages to see what Rhonda the Rhombus will do/say next!
June 25, 2021
My Life as a Rhombus is an amazing book. It shows the struggle of teen pregnancy through the characters own experiences, and from being a bystander to it. The story follows highschool senior, Rhonda Lee, as she helps one of her fellow tutoring students who is pregnant. While that is happening Rhondas own story starts to come out, and soon things in Rhondas perfect on track life start to change. If I had to rate this book out of 5, I would give it a 4.
Read 4-13-20
11-23-17
Read 4-13-20
11-23-17
August 10, 2021
The story itself was pretty good, but the writing could have been better.
February 3, 2017
I saw the title of this book and was drawn to it immediately.I read this book all in one sitting because I found the main character Rhonda to be compelling. I thought the story was nicely paced and was a page turner for me. I I haven't read so much about the subject of abortion in YA fiction yet and I thought the way the author handled it in terms of Rhonda and her friendship with Sarah was good and well thought out. In this book the consequences of abortion and life afterwards were explored just enough that I think a YA audience would be able to grasp. I also thought the math related chapter titles were a bonus. However, there did seem to be a lot of over the top drama in some places, but it made for an exciting read. Overall I'm glad I read this book.
November 23, 2019
2.5 stars. An interesting topic, but lackluster writing. Some adult men may be able to write from a teen girl’s point of view, but this author isn’t that person. A few plot points were unrealistic and a lot of the characters were flat and unlikeable.
Note for parents and teachers: some profanity and descriptions of almost-sex.
Note for parents and teachers: some profanity and descriptions of almost-sex.
August 3, 2021
A book from a teenage girl's perspective, written by a man? He nailed it.
A book about people of color that isn't about race? Also nailed it.
And to boot, he managed to handle teen pregnancy and abortion without being heavy-handed.
Highly recommend.
A book about people of color that isn't about race? Also nailed it.
And to boot, he managed to handle teen pregnancy and abortion without being heavy-handed.
Highly recommend.
April 26, 2022
I think this was pretty good. The characters in this book are easy to judge, but you have to really pay attention to the details.
Read it for yourself.
Read it for yourself.
January 5, 2014
I have a strange appreciation for YA issue novels...if it deals with pregnancy, suicide, violence, eating disorders, etc., I'll probably want to read it. I've had my eye on this book for a while but I ended up spontaneously downloading it last week to kill some downtime. It ended up being a fast, enjoyable, and well-written novel about teen pregnancy that managed to avoid preachiness and melodramatic cliches.
The main character, Rhonda, is an academically-driven senior at a prestigious prep school who we learn had an abortion a year and a half ago. During her tutoring job after school, she's placed with another high school student - an extremely popular girl named Sarah who is also pregnant and struggling with the same issues as Rhonda. Rhonda decides to confide in Sarah about her own past, which brings the girls closer together but also forces Rhonda to re-evaluate the decisions she made a year and a half ago.
The best word that I can use to describe this novel is "satisfying." Rhonda feels authentic, flawed, and complicated, her blossoming romance with Sarah's brother does not feel contrived, and the final confrontation that Rhonda has with her ex-boyfriend (and the guy who got her pregnant) is extremely satisfying, particularly for anyone who's ever found themselves under the power of a mean-spirited person in high school. Rhonda's revenge is exceptionally sweet!
It would be easy for this novel to fall back on a particular moral stance - teens should not be having sex, abortion should be illegal, etc. - but the author keeps the discussion fluid and complicated without sacrificing the elements of a good story.
While the story itself is strong, this isn't a novel I would automatically suggest for someone looking for a contemporary setting or strong characters. The complicated issues are what will draw readers to this novel, and some people just don't want to deal with these moral quandries while reading. But for someone who does appreciate a well-constructed teen issue novel, this would be an excellent suggestion.
Readalikes:
November Blues - Sharon Draper. November is a high-achieving senior, but the day after her boyfriend dies in a freak hazing accident, she learns that she is pregnant. Both novels deal with teen pregnancy and shattered family relationships, although November Blues is told from two perspectives: November's & Jericho's - the cousin & close friend of November's boyfriend.
The First Part Last - Angela Johnson. Told from the teen father's perspective, this story recounts the struggle of a sixteen-year-old single dad through alternating "then" and "now" chapters.
Jumping Off Swings - Jo Knowles. This complex contemporary novel tells the story of one girl's pregnancy through four different perspectives without casting blame on any one character.
The main character, Rhonda, is an academically-driven senior at a prestigious prep school who we learn had an abortion a year and a half ago. During her tutoring job after school, she's placed with another high school student - an extremely popular girl named Sarah who is also pregnant and struggling with the same issues as Rhonda. Rhonda decides to confide in Sarah about her own past, which brings the girls closer together but also forces Rhonda to re-evaluate the decisions she made a year and a half ago.
The best word that I can use to describe this novel is "satisfying." Rhonda feels authentic, flawed, and complicated, her blossoming romance with Sarah's brother does not feel contrived, and the final confrontation that Rhonda has with her ex-boyfriend (and the guy who got her pregnant) is extremely satisfying, particularly for anyone who's ever found themselves under the power of a mean-spirited person in high school. Rhonda's revenge is exceptionally sweet!
It would be easy for this novel to fall back on a particular moral stance - teens should not be having sex, abortion should be illegal, etc. - but the author keeps the discussion fluid and complicated without sacrificing the elements of a good story.
While the story itself is strong, this isn't a novel I would automatically suggest for someone looking for a contemporary setting or strong characters. The complicated issues are what will draw readers to this novel, and some people just don't want to deal with these moral quandries while reading. But for someone who does appreciate a well-constructed teen issue novel, this would be an excellent suggestion.
Readalikes:
November Blues - Sharon Draper. November is a high-achieving senior, but the day after her boyfriend dies in a freak hazing accident, she learns that she is pregnant. Both novels deal with teen pregnancy and shattered family relationships, although November Blues is told from two perspectives: November's & Jericho's - the cousin & close friend of November's boyfriend.
The First Part Last - Angela Johnson. Told from the teen father's perspective, this story recounts the struggle of a sixteen-year-old single dad through alternating "then" and "now" chapters.
Jumping Off Swings - Jo Knowles. This complex contemporary novel tells the story of one girl's pregnancy through four different perspectives without casting blame on any one character.
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Rhombus: a parallelogram with four equal sides and sometimes one with no right angles. -Merriam-Webster online dictionary
On page one of this story, the reader meets the narrator, Rhonda Lee. Rhonda is a senior at Piedmont and tutors after school at West Columbia Community Center. Upon entering Piedmont, she was popular, but things have changed since she was a freshman. Enter Sarah Gamble - a junior, a cheerleader, popular, and forced by her mom, Justice Gamble, to find a tutor to help her with math.
What starts out as Rhonda's animosity towards Sarah and all of the kids like her at their school soon turns to a mutual understanding between the two girls. After their second tutoring session, Rhonda has deduced that Sarah is pregnant. With a simple "How far along are you?" by Rhonda, the friendship begins.
As Sarah struggles to come to terms with her pregnancy, and her ultimate decision, flashbacks by Rhonda fill the reader in on her history and previous pregnancy. Rhonda has shut herself off from anything but her studies and her goals to get into Georgia Tech on a scholarship. Her friendship and support to Sarah help her realize that past mistakes do not have to limit your future happiness. And so evolves the story, and the eventual outcomes of the choices each girl has to make, ultimately on their own.
Wow, what a great story! From the start, I didn't want to put the book down. And if it weren't for having to get up for work the next morning, I would easily have read the entire book in one sitting. As it was, I had to wait until the following day to complete it.
The most surprising thing is that the author of the book is a male. The story is told in the first person by a female. Mr. Johnson tells the story simply, without preaching, nor without choosing sides between pregnancy and abortion. He makes you think about the choices each girl has had to make with their lives, and how they will have to live with those decisions. Mr. Johnson is able to do that convincingly, even as a male. Reading the questions to the author at the end of the book, it was interesting to find out that the original concept of the story was meant to be written as an adult book, told from Rhonda's father's viewpoint. He has captured the struggles of teen girls perfectly, and the story is quite believable.
A similar story is ANGEL'S CHOICE by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, but Mr. Johnson's book has even more depth and emotion. Because of his uncanny ability to portray teen girls without coming across as knowing the right answers, I bestow a Gold Star Award on this book.
Rhombus: a parallelogram with four equal sides and sometimes one with no right angles. -Merriam-Webster online dictionary
On page one of this story, the reader meets the narrator, Rhonda Lee. Rhonda is a senior at Piedmont and tutors after school at West Columbia Community Center. Upon entering Piedmont, she was popular, but things have changed since she was a freshman. Enter Sarah Gamble - a junior, a cheerleader, popular, and forced by her mom, Justice Gamble, to find a tutor to help her with math.
What starts out as Rhonda's animosity towards Sarah and all of the kids like her at their school soon turns to a mutual understanding between the two girls. After their second tutoring session, Rhonda has deduced that Sarah is pregnant. With a simple "How far along are you?" by Rhonda, the friendship begins.
As Sarah struggles to come to terms with her pregnancy, and her ultimate decision, flashbacks by Rhonda fill the reader in on her history and previous pregnancy. Rhonda has shut herself off from anything but her studies and her goals to get into Georgia Tech on a scholarship. Her friendship and support to Sarah help her realize that past mistakes do not have to limit your future happiness. And so evolves the story, and the eventual outcomes of the choices each girl has to make, ultimately on their own.
Wow, what a great story! From the start, I didn't want to put the book down. And if it weren't for having to get up for work the next morning, I would easily have read the entire book in one sitting. As it was, I had to wait until the following day to complete it.
The most surprising thing is that the author of the book is a male. The story is told in the first person by a female. Mr. Johnson tells the story simply, without preaching, nor without choosing sides between pregnancy and abortion. He makes you think about the choices each girl has had to make with their lives, and how they will have to live with those decisions. Mr. Johnson is able to do that convincingly, even as a male. Reading the questions to the author at the end of the book, it was interesting to find out that the original concept of the story was meant to be written as an adult book, told from Rhonda's father's viewpoint. He has captured the struggles of teen girls perfectly, and the story is quite believable.
A similar story is ANGEL'S CHOICE by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, but Mr. Johnson's book has even more depth and emotion. Because of his uncanny ability to portray teen girls without coming across as knowing the right answers, I bestow a Gold Star Award on this book.
October 26, 2011
I really liked this one. I know many people will hear "deals with teen pregnancy and abortion" and think issue novel and put it back on the shelf. DO NOT do this with this book. It doesn't moralise or pass judgment on the characters and it's not really about abortion, as such. It's about Rhonda and her struggle to love and trust again after what she's been through. Being hurt by past experiences and having to overcome that is not an 'issue', it's an universal experience.
Rhonda is a great character, too. She's bright, she's hard-working, she's loyal and she's fair-minded. I actually think she's a great role model for teen girls, despite her early mistakes. It's OK; she didn't spring forth into the world completely awesome, she had to learn to be that way. At the start of the story, Rhonda is closed off - she has a small group of friends but her sole focus is on getting into college and she's sworn off relationships completely. While that's an understandable and not altogether unwise decision for someone with her past, Rhonda's also become distant from her father and disinclined towards making new friends. It's clear she's shutting out more than boys here.
However, Rhonda can't help but bond with Sarah over their similar situations and their friendship begins to open up Rhonda's world again - especially when she gets to know Sarah's brother, David. Sarah and David are probably a little too nice to be true (David's incredibly understanding of Rhonda's "no sex" rule) but I couldn't help but like them, either, and hanging out at their house eating home-made cookies sounds like lots of fun.
Rhonda's relationship with her father is a far more difficult fix and the uncomfortable atmosphere between them is realistically conveyed. Many girls have had to experience that feeling of not being 'daddy's girl' anymore. If I have one complaint against this book, it's that we don't see the final reconciliation between these two. It's a shame, as I felt that the father-daughter relationship was the most vital to Rhonda's character.
Rhonda's a math whizz and something cute that Varian Johnson adds to the text are little diagrams, where Rhonda tries to work out her life as a mathematical equation. It gives you an insight into the character and it's a fun way of doing it. Educational, too.
The happy ending to this book might be a bit too neat (Sarah's life, in particular, seems too tidily wrapped up), but to be honest, after enjoying the characters as much as I did, I didn't care. I wanted everything to work out for Rhonda and I think every reader will feel the same.
Rhonda is a great character, too. She's bright, she's hard-working, she's loyal and she's fair-minded. I actually think she's a great role model for teen girls, despite her early mistakes. It's OK; she didn't spring forth into the world completely awesome, she had to learn to be that way. At the start of the story, Rhonda is closed off - she has a small group of friends but her sole focus is on getting into college and she's sworn off relationships completely. While that's an understandable and not altogether unwise decision for someone with her past, Rhonda's also become distant from her father and disinclined towards making new friends. It's clear she's shutting out more than boys here.
However, Rhonda can't help but bond with Sarah over their similar situations and their friendship begins to open up Rhonda's world again - especially when she gets to know Sarah's brother, David. Sarah and David are probably a little too nice to be true (David's incredibly understanding of Rhonda's "no sex" rule) but I couldn't help but like them, either, and hanging out at their house eating home-made cookies sounds like lots of fun.
Rhonda's relationship with her father is a far more difficult fix and the uncomfortable atmosphere between them is realistically conveyed. Many girls have had to experience that feeling of not being 'daddy's girl' anymore. If I have one complaint against this book, it's that we don't see the final reconciliation between these two. It's a shame, as I felt that the father-daughter relationship was the most vital to Rhonda's character.
Rhonda's a math whizz and something cute that Varian Johnson adds to the text are little diagrams, where Rhonda tries to work out her life as a mathematical equation. It gives you an insight into the character and it's a fun way of doing it. Educational, too.
The happy ending to this book might be a bit too neat (Sarah's life, in particular, seems too tidily wrapped up), but to be honest, after enjoying the characters as much as I did, I didn't care. I wanted everything to work out for Rhonda and I think every reader will feel the same.
November 20, 2008
Rhonda the Rhombus. Perhaps not the most-appealing nickname a girl can have. But...Rhonda makes for quite a good heroine as one of the stars in Varian Johnson's My Life As A Rhombus.
Rhonda Lee is great at math. She excels so much that she tutors students of all ages at West Columbia Community Center. Which is how our heroine comes to meet Sarah Gamble. Sarah is one of the beautiful, popular people. Sarah needs help...and she needs it quickly if she's going to pull her grades up. But what starts as a rather reluctant relationship...becomes much much more through the course of the novel. As these two unlikely teens find they have much in common.
Their common bond? Unplanned pregnancies. Rhonda's is in the past--two years previous--and Sarah's is in the present. Sarah's secret is revealed to Rhonda alone. And the two come to discuss life and all its hardships in detail as Sarah puzzles out what to do with her life, her body. Rhonda's pregnancy ended in abortion--it's a choice that was out of her hands. Rhonda's father controlled the situation then, and this has put some strain into the relationship. It's not that Rhonda wanted to have her baby--not really. But she wanted to be the one to think it through, the one to decide. She wanted the choice to be hers. And the whole situation--sex, pregnancy, abortion--still haunts her in many, many ways. Her past keeps her from living in the present.
Sarah's friendship--and Sarah's brother, David--offer Rhonda a unique opportunity. A chance to offer comfort and support, yes, but a chance to heal as well. A chance to learn that your life need not be defined by past mistakes and regrets. A chance to accept life in all its fullness.
I enjoyed this one. I liked the transformation and development of the relationships between Rhonda and Sarah and Rhonda and David. For that matter, I liked the characterizations in general.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
November 20, 2014
One of those books about Important Issues that has a gripping enough story to keep you going, but the writing didn't wow me. I found the teen characters' voices somewhat unconvincing, especially when compared to authors like Rita Williams Garcia who really captures them well. I was also unconvinced by some of the characters' motivations, but understand that they needed to do what they did in order to create drama to be resolved.
That said, the Important Issues really are Important, especially the theme of teen girls who are relatively smart and well-off who are torn between the desire to have sex and the fear of getting infected, pregnant, and/or dumped. In Rhonda's case, the fear is based on her experience with the latter two, which resulted in an abortion. This theme was explored very well in Acting by Sherri Winston and in Played by Dana Davidson and it's one of the themes that works well in this book. What I appreciate in all of these books is that the girls aren't being pressured to have sex by guys--they're being affected by their own hormones.
I also appreciate books about African-American characters that aren't "about" race. Teens of any race experience these issues. These characters just happen to be African-American--as well as comfortably middle class and planning to go to good universities.
There were an awful lot of sideplots--popular girl not being as shallow as she seems, best friend being jealous of new friends, adult using college recommendations as blackmail, food/body image, mother's death, father's new girlfriend, another girl's pregnancy and refusal to reveal who father is. They help keep the drama coming, but some are touched on fairly minimally. An important part of the story is the main character's relationship with her father after the abortion, which was relatively believable. There's a satisfying resolution to everything--my only quibble being that it might all be a little too neatly resolved--but who doesn't love a happy ending?
That said, the Important Issues really are Important, especially the theme of teen girls who are relatively smart and well-off who are torn between the desire to have sex and the fear of getting infected, pregnant, and/or dumped. In Rhonda's case, the fear is based on her experience with the latter two, which resulted in an abortion. This theme was explored very well in Acting by Sherri Winston and in Played by Dana Davidson and it's one of the themes that works well in this book. What I appreciate in all of these books is that the girls aren't being pressured to have sex by guys--they're being affected by their own hormones.
I also appreciate books about African-American characters that aren't "about" race. Teens of any race experience these issues. These characters just happen to be African-American--as well as comfortably middle class and planning to go to good universities.
There were an awful lot of sideplots--popular girl not being as shallow as she seems, best friend being jealous of new friends, adult using college recommendations as blackmail, food/body image, mother's death, father's new girlfriend, another girl's pregnancy and refusal to reveal who father is. They help keep the drama coming, but some are touched on fairly minimally. An important part of the story is the main character's relationship with her father after the abortion, which was relatively believable. There's a satisfying resolution to everything--my only quibble being that it might all be a little too neatly resolved--but who doesn't love a happy ending?
October 12, 2012
I chose this book because i love math and the title had a mathematical name in it, also in the background there was a board with math equations written on it. The plot of the book is that friends don't have to be perfect. In the book, a seventeen year old girl named Rhonda becomes the tutor of a rich, spoiled, and pregnant girl named Sarah Gamble. At first, even the thought of tutoring Sarah was a nightmare for Rhonda, but after they got to know each other, they became the best of friends. My favorite quote was "It's not perfect,but it could be worse." I like this particular quote because it states that bad days come around but once they're gone, the good days will arrive. Just wait. I thought the author's writing style was fabulous because he provided lots of details and used imagery about every event. While i was reading the book, i felt like i was right there next to the characters, feeling what they would feel and fitting in with their conversations. I would recommend this book to anyone that thinks they are ugly, or not good enough for someone. Let me share my opinion. Every one has their own beauty that some people might not see, and if someone dosen't respect another person it simply means that they want to be treated that same way.
February 2, 2012
I really liked this book. Rhonda was so fully developed, and I thought Johnson did a good job of keeping her arc at the forefront even when the capital-d Drama was going on with Sarah. There are a small (and growing, knowing what I do about some wonderful 2013 releases) number of YA novels that focus on a protagonist who needs so badly to forgive herself but just can't quite, and it's a journey that done well is really beautiful. Just really loved Rhonda's arc, love how smart she is, love how much that didn't keep her exempt from.
In my copy of the book there's an interview with Johnson at the end; he claims he didn't go into this book with a pro- or anti-choice slant. However, this book is so vividly about the importance of girls and women having agency over their own bodies and not being afraid to claim that. That's the most beautiful pro-choice message I could hope for in a YA novel. I am as pro-choice as they come and I don't want any woman to have an abortion she doesn't want.
PREACHING OVER. THIS BOOK ALSO HAS SWOONY MOMENTS.
(read: 12)
In my copy of the book there's an interview with Johnson at the end; he claims he didn't go into this book with a pro- or anti-choice slant. However, this book is so vividly about the importance of girls and women having agency over their own bodies and not being afraid to claim that. That's the most beautiful pro-choice message I could hope for in a YA novel. I am as pro-choice as they come and I don't want any woman to have an abortion she doesn't want.
PREACHING OVER. THIS BOOK ALSO HAS SWOONY MOMENTS.
(read: 12)
November 24, 2009
Rhonda Lee is a math-loving high-school senior, working hard to earn a college scholarship and tutoring other kids in math; she doesn't have time for fun or dating. When she has to tutor popular Sarah Gamble, Rhonda notices Sarah's queasiness and tiredness and figures out that they have something in common. Against her will, Rhonda grows to like Sarah, and her brother David, and realizes that she needs to face her past.
On the plus side, I was impressed with the characterization of Rhonda, which is very vivid and convincing, and with the complex web of relationships she has with her friends and family, and I thought the plot was nicely worked out without being at all preachy. On the minus side, the dialogue often struck me as forced, and I would really have liked more resolution to Rhonda's relationship with her dad. On the whole, though, I did like this a lot and would definitely read more of Johnson's YA (looks like he's got another book coming out next year).
On the plus side, I was impressed with the characterization of Rhonda, which is very vivid and convincing, and with the complex web of relationships she has with her friends and family, and I thought the plot was nicely worked out without being at all preachy. On the minus side, the dialogue often struck me as forced, and I would really have liked more resolution to Rhonda's relationship with her dad. On the whole, though, I did like this a lot and would definitely read more of Johnson's YA (looks like he's got another book coming out next year).
October 18, 2014
My book is 'My Life as a Rhombus' by Varrian Johnson. Rhonda is a genius (especially in trigonometry). She has the highest marks in her grade, and tutors those who don't. On a particularly ordinary day, while tutoring her favorite eight year old twins, she gets notified that she has a new student to tutor. None other than the most popular girl in her grade, Sara. As the days go by, Rhonda learns that Sara has made the same HUGE mistake that she did in her 'not-so-innocent' past. As Rhonda attempts to 'conceal and heal' Sara`s burden, she faces challenges of her own, relationships, tutoring, and school, none of which can be compared to Sara`s secret. Will Rhonda buckle under the pressure? Will Sara`s burden be finally lifted of her shoulders? Or will she have to deal with this for the rest of her life... I got this book from my cousin, and started reading it because she recommended it to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading realistic fiction.
October 20, 2012
My Life as a Rhombus. My Life as a Rhombus . Wow. What a darn awesome book!
For some reason I like to read books about fellow geeks, nerds, whatever, such as myself. So after reading Saving Maddie by the same author and found out about this book, I was immediately excited. Because it's about math. And that means this girl's a nerd xD. And even though I kinda die a little inside at the mention of math, I was still really happy about reading this book. I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I realized that this girl, Rhonda, had an abortion(not that I'm pro-life or trying to make political statements in a book website) but I just kinda wanted to read about a pure, nerd girl. But I was happy again once I got into this book. And as I said it was awesome! OOH YEAH! :)
For some reason I like to read books about fellow geeks, nerds, whatever, such as myself. So after reading Saving Maddie by the same author and found out about this book, I was immediately excited. Because it's about math. And that means this girl's a nerd xD. And even though I kinda die a little inside at the mention of math, I was still really happy about reading this book. I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I realized that this girl, Rhonda, had an abortion(not that I'm pro-life or trying to make political statements in a book website) but I just kinda wanted to read about a pure, nerd girl. But I was happy again once I got into this book. And as I said it was awesome! OOH YEAH! :)
January 23, 2016
A friend had this book on her classroom shelves. I liked the title so I asked if I might borrow it.
This really isn't a good choice for middle school... except under certain circumstances.
I love the use of mathematical diagrams to show relationships. I love the brutal honesty of the main character. I love the line the author walked to open up dialogue about abortion and teenage pregnancy.
I didn't like the raw emotion, especially regarding physical attraction, aka lust. I didn't like the profanity. Because of the graphic lust and the profanity, I can't keep this book out on my shelves even though I think it would be an excellent addition to any classroom library where students are already thinking about sex.
I highly recommend this book to high school readers and parent-daughter/parent-son book clubs.
This really isn't a good choice for middle school... except under certain circumstances.
I love the use of mathematical diagrams to show relationships. I love the brutal honesty of the main character. I love the line the author walked to open up dialogue about abortion and teenage pregnancy.
I didn't like the raw emotion, especially regarding physical attraction, aka lust. I didn't like the profanity. Because of the graphic lust and the profanity, I can't keep this book out on my shelves even though I think it would be an excellent addition to any classroom library where students are already thinking about sex.
I highly recommend this book to high school readers and parent-daughter/parent-son book clubs.
April 6, 2008
boyfriend x what she thought was love = an abortion a screwed up life.
Rhonda is still scared from the last relation she had with the rich, popular, basketball player, Cristopher. He got her pregnant then left her with his small amount of money to help pay for an abortion, an extremely pissed off father, and the fear of getting to close to anyone else for the fear of it happening again. When she runs into Sarah Gamble while tutoring kids with math, she finds herself helping with a little more then the standard curriculum, this lesson required more then her normal turoring sessions did including the trial and possible failure of Rhonda the Rhombus's personal elements. Can she learn to open up the people who love her and relize she loves them back?
Rhonda is still scared from the last relation she had with the rich, popular, basketball player, Cristopher. He got her pregnant then left her with his small amount of money to help pay for an abortion, an extremely pissed off father, and the fear of getting to close to anyone else for the fear of it happening again. When she runs into Sarah Gamble while tutoring kids with math, she finds herself helping with a little more then the standard curriculum, this lesson required more then her normal turoring sessions did including the trial and possible failure of Rhonda the Rhombus's personal elements. Can she learn to open up the people who love her and relize she loves them back?
September 29, 2009
Rhonda is a "sadder but wiser" high school student who loves math. Her friends are geeks, and she shies away from talking to anybody in the popular cheerleader/basketball star clique.
But then one day a cheerleader comes to her tutoring center and it turns out Rhonda has more in common with the cheerleader than she thought.
The story is how Rhonda becomes friends with the cheerleader, and learns to trust herself as she finally heals from a traumatic experience a few years earlier.
Throughout the book are little references to math and theories that are cute without being too overwhelming.
I loved the voice of Rhonda (and imagine my surprise when I found out she was written by a male author!).
Excellent book.
But then one day a cheerleader comes to her tutoring center and it turns out Rhonda has more in common with the cheerleader than she thought.
The story is how Rhonda becomes friends with the cheerleader, and learns to trust herself as she finally heals from a traumatic experience a few years earlier.
Throughout the book are little references to math and theories that are cute without being too overwhelming.
I loved the voice of Rhonda (and imagine my surprise when I found out she was written by a male author!).
Excellent book.
Currently reading
June 21, 2010The book "My Life As A Rhombus" is a very good book...so far. I know i have been slacking, bt i know i can get were i need to get. I'm on page 65 out of 297. yeah i know it seems like a lot but if i try harder then it wont.
In the book "My Life As A Rhombus" this girl name Rhonda Lee she is now trying to get a scholorship for college. while she is tutoring college kids a rich girl named Sarah Gamble high school student needs a tutor, but Rhonda doesnt tutor High school students. now Rhonda is very mad because first she really doesnt like uppity girls like sarah and she doesnt tutor highschool students.so she goes to Bryce Michell,the director of the tutoring program. tell the rest later....
In the book "My Life As A Rhombus" this girl name Rhonda Lee she is now trying to get a scholorship for college. while she is tutoring college kids a rich girl named Sarah Gamble high school student needs a tutor, but Rhonda doesnt tutor High school students. now Rhonda is very mad because first she really doesnt like uppity girls like sarah and she doesnt tutor highschool students.so she goes to Bryce Michell,the director of the tutoring program. tell the rest later....
July 5, 2010
I'm passionate about reading YA literature and sharing it with my siblings and their friends because this is the type of stuff that truly connects with a young audience (not that Catcher in the Rye doesn't have value in the teen world, but it certainly takes a lot more to get a teen to read it than it does something like this). In "My Life as a Rhombus", Varian Johnson gets inside the mind of a teenage girl (quite a feat for a male author) while tackling the tough issues of teenage pregnancy and abortion. In a story which feels and sounds realistic, Johnson delivers a novel that can easily resonate with any teenager. This is one of the better YA novels I've read and I look forward to reading more of Johnson's work.
March 19, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book because it felt real; the characters were developed beings who I could relate and care about. I hated Gail, but that is also realistic because you won't like everyone you meet.
I feel like the end of the book left me feeling confused. I felt like the message that was being sent to girls reading this book was a confusing one. Be good and refrain from having sex or you will be slut shamed and life will be over. I wanted Rhonda to remain abstinate for herself, but I always felt like it was for everyone else.
I think Varian Johnson did a great job with the voices in the book. I honestly didn't know the author was male until the book was over, so kudos to him for pulling this off.
I feel like the end of the book left me feeling confused. I felt like the message that was being sent to girls reading this book was a confusing one. Be good and refrain from having sex or you will be slut shamed and life will be over. I wanted Rhonda to remain abstinate for herself, but I always felt like it was for everyone else.
I think Varian Johnson did a great job with the voices in the book. I honestly didn't know the author was male until the book was over, so kudos to him for pulling this off.
November 4, 2008
Rhonda used to be one of the popular girls at her prestigious prep school, but all it got her was trouble. Now she's a wallflower, a smart girl who tutors kids at the community center, dreams of going to Georgia Tech on a scholarship, and watches the popular kids with a mixture of envy and disgust. When popular girl Sarah Gamble comes to her for tutoring, Rhonda refuses at first. But they have much more in common than she ever could have guessed.
This book has a really interesting premise and it's refreshing to read about African American characters in a book that doesn't center around race. But the writing fell flat for me, so overall it was just okay.
This book has a really interesting premise and it's refreshing to read about African American characters in a book that doesn't center around race. But the writing fell flat for me, so overall it was just okay.
July 17, 2009
This is the third book into my daughter's summer discovery of trashy books. By trashy, I don't mean poorly written etc, it's just a term that I use to describe certain types of book. My daughter has always wondered how people read books so fast, but now she knows. If it's really interesting (and the subject matter is probably somewhat inappropriate for your age) you find that you get through the book much faster than you normally would. This book is about teenage pregnancy, popularity, and trying to get good grades despite the tempations of drinking and boys. My daughter and I especially liked all the math references.
June 28, 2010
I really enjoyed this one, and I wasn't sure if I would. Normally I like to steer clear from the pregnancy teen novels because they only make me annoyed but this wasn't what I thought. I loved how the relationships changed between the characters and how Rhonda was desired even if she wasn't the best looking.
The ending was really good for me and it made up for Sarah's crazy mother. She really got my blood boiling! Towards the end things were tense and I was wondering what would happen and I love novels like that. I was pleasantly surprised to find the author was male. He really has a good insight into the female mind. His wife is a lucky woman! ;)
The ending was really good for me and it made up for Sarah's crazy mother. She really got my blood boiling! Towards the end things were tense and I was wondering what would happen and I love novels like that. I was pleasantly surprised to find the author was male. He really has a good insight into the female mind. His wife is a lucky woman! ;)
January 26, 2013
This book is so real in that the teen pregnancy issues is something that happens every day. The talk of abortion is so scandalous and it's one of the main events in the book. The protagonist Rhonda is bitter and comes off as mean or stand off-ish but she has a soft heart which really comes through in the writing. I rated it with 3 stars just because it seems like an average book. Lots of teen books sound the same to me and this just fell in that category. It's definitely worth your time if you're looking for just an easy read and something uncomplicated so this is a good choice. It's not boring and just captivating enough.
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