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Prom Trouble
Who will run the prom? Who will be invited? Will there BE a prom?
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 5, 2020
4 3/4 stars.
June 15, 2023
Rodney Budlong, typical all-American high school boy, completely overwhelmed by his office: President of the Junior Class. What did he do to deserve this? He's not popular like Albert Kenwood, who is terrible person but should rightfully be President of the Junior Class because he believes he should be, at least in his own mind, and sometimes in Rodney's. The pressure! A concerned citizen wants the prom to be for everyone, not just those who always attend such things, and she also dislikes the kids leaving prom and tearing around town in their cars all night. Rodney has a car. Sometimes it goes "kerchunk." He souped it up and it is in soup now, which is unfortunate because he loves Jody and girls will only love you if you have a car.
This novel is hilarious and fraught. Also wholesome. 1959 was the year of the most teen pregnancies in American history, but Prom Trouble was written back in 1952 and there is only the purest of love, a single implied kiss as a result of falling over, and Albert Kenwood makes a mean comment about parking. Wholesome.
Rodney has a lot of friends. They rather melt together. Stone Brain is the only one meaningfully attached to the plot and he has a different name that adults call him, which is confusing. I like that, when inclusion was still illegal in too damn many states, James L. Summers included an ambiguously ethnic friend in the group. Charles Nipomo is a good egg, Rodney's been to his house, and he's the one who identifies the popcorn failure. “The choice of your father not to sell popcorn in his movie theater.”
The football chapter is a fantastic fever dream. Everything after the football chapter might be the consequences of tackle football on Rodney's young brain.
James L. Summers, the ex-teacher, makes enough quips about teacher salaries. Mr. Buckwilder went back to school the morning after his wife gave birth? Was that normal? He's a good egg too. A little overwhelmed with his plight and he hasn't even been teaching that long. Maybe he should become a wholesome teen novelist. Stone Brain can be the teacher.
Good book!
This novel is hilarious and fraught. Also wholesome. 1959 was the year of the most teen pregnancies in American history, but Prom Trouble was written back in 1952 and there is only the purest of love, a single implied kiss as a result of falling over, and Albert Kenwood makes a mean comment about parking. Wholesome.
Rodney has a lot of friends. They rather melt together. Stone Brain is the only one meaningfully attached to the plot and he has a different name that adults call him, which is confusing. I like that, when inclusion was still illegal in too damn many states, James L. Summers included an ambiguously ethnic friend in the group. Charles Nipomo is a good egg, Rodney's been to his house, and he's the one who identifies the popcorn failure. “The choice of your father not to sell popcorn in his movie theater.”
The football chapter is a fantastic fever dream. Everything after the football chapter might be the consequences of tackle football on Rodney's young brain.
James L. Summers, the ex-teacher, makes enough quips about teacher salaries. Mr. Buckwilder went back to school the morning after his wife gave birth? Was that normal? He's a good egg too. A little overwhelmed with his plight and he hasn't even been teaching that long. Maybe he should become a wholesome teen novelist. Stone Brain can be the teacher.
Good book!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews