Contents Under Pressure

A fresh, honest look at the difficult choices and unexpected joys in a girl's life under pressure.

Lucy Doyle is about to explode. She's sure her name might as well be Loser because she's fourteen and never, ever been kissed. To make matters worse, nearly all of her friends have left her behind for boys. Even Lucy's favorite brother doesn't seem to have time for her anymore. He's just moved home from college with a distant new attitude and a big-haired girlfriend Lucy can't stand. Freshman year is definitely not off to a good start.

So when Lucy attracts the attention of Tobin Scacheri, the junior everyone wants to date, she can barely believe her luck. Tobin's cute and funny, and he might like Lucy as much as she likes him. But Lucy's brother has a secret that will turn her already mixed-up world completely upside down. Now, Lucy must figure out how far she's willing to take her relationship with Tobin - and how to deal with a brother who's not as perfect as she thought.

Praise for Contents Under Pressure:

"Judy Blume-style made modern." - Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will plunge right in." - Horn Book

"Every middle and junior high school girl and even some boys will want to read this novel. Librarians, parents, and classroom teachers in grades seven through ten should stock up on it. A Perfect Ten!" - VOYA (5Q/5P)

"Zeises paints a convincing picture of a family facing tough decisions and a fully realistic heroine who's confused and scared. Even secondary characters have depth and add sparkle to an already absorbing plot. A winning family drama." - School Library Journal

"Zeises writes with a good mix of the substance and superficiality that characterize teenage life, and her audience will certainly recognize the characters, their voices, and the things that concern them." - Booklist

"Takes a mature approach to many issues surrounding young people and sex, managing at the same time to be both light-handed and earnest. ... Funny, klutzy Lucy is a likable narrator and easy to identify with, and Zeises convincingly captures the complexity of the age ..." - Publisher's Weekly

"While not nearly as intense as the issues that haunt the author's Bringing Up the Bones (BCCB 1/03), the questions posed here about the challenge to heart-held ideals and the shifting alliances of adolescence are as compellingly handled for a slightly younger audience. Refreshingly forthright and not overly sophisticated, Lucy is a likable guide to the mess entanglements of the early teen years. Recommended.” - The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Teenagers, especially those in the middle - of their families, of the teen years - will find this novel both amusing and moving." - KLIATT (starred review)

"Zeises’ talented writing ... captures the angst of shifting social groupings as teens mature at different rates. Humorous dialogue, fine pacing, and refreshing imagery ... Recommended." - Children’s Literature

"Fast-paced, funny dialogue and a 'gross out' younger brother add comic relief. Teens, parents, librarians, and even some boys will be satisfied with this 'chick lit.'" - Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy

"A must-read for middle school and high school students, a funny chick-lit novel that also teaches some valuable lessons about boy-girl relationships." - The St. Petersburg Times

"Zeises' energy and immediacy makes her books shine. ... [she] has a knack for dialogue and a talent for compelling storytelling." - The Dallas Morning News

"Lively writing style, likable characters ...[a] humorous and touching story." - The Detroit Free Press

"Lucy is a smart, sensible character who stands up for herself - yet is touchingly uncertain about how to handle her first romance. ... A good coming-of-age tale for young-teen girls." - The Orange County Register

"Zeises speaks the language of 14-year-old girls - from bad hair to boys - and has found a way, through Lucy, to talk about the difficult navigation of adolescence." - The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal

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