Toten, Teresa. Better than Blonde. Toronto: Puffin, 2007.
It’s the 1970’s and Sophie Kandinsky is a first generation Canadian dealing with problems that none of her friends can imagine. Her father (who she told her friends was dead) has recently been released out of prison and has moved back home with her and her mother. Her aunts (who aren’t really related to her) are always there for her, but have no clue as to what it’s like being a teenager with a pretend dead father, and a workaholic mother. Her friends, the Blondes, are great, but they all have their own issues (especially Madison, who just found out she’s adopted.) This is all on top of the fact that the love of her life is currently dating someone whom Sophie (and all of her friends) can not stand.
Better than Blonde is better than the average YA read. Maybe it’s the intelligent humour, the characters you just can’t help sympathizing with, or the surprise twists and turns, but Better than Blonde is an exceptionally well written novel appealing to female young adults and adults alike.
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