Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

This is my introduction to Laurie Halse Anderson, of course I knew of her but this is my first hands on.  I’ll admit I’m not much of one for “girly” books and when I had an Anthony Horowitz on one side of this and a Darren Shan on the other this teal cover with white limo and pink dress was the one that made me want to run the other way.  Ashley Hannigan is a senior at a rough Philadelphia high school and she could care less about prom except for the fact that her best friend is obsessed with it.  Then the faculty adviser steals the prom money and Ash is suddenly becoming more and more involved in making what she calls “just a dance” happen and it ends up teaching her just how much she can make happen.  I think the ending is quite uplifting.  It is a fast read with short chapters you just go one more until suddenly it is over.  Yes sex is mentioned, but in a way that is realistic and yet acknowledges the dangers of having a baby you can’t even figure out what to name.  I’ll admit I enjoyed this girly looking book.