Book Review: Bass Ackwards and Belly Up
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this book follows three best
friends as they "commit the ultimate suburban sin" and forgo
college in favor of a gap year. (A fourth friend sticks with
higher education, mainly to be on the ski team.) There is a
strong emphasis on looks and fashion, with many mentions of
high-end brands such as Seven jeans. Product references are
ubiquitous; for example, characters don't drink bottled water;
they drink Fiji water. One young woman has a one-night stand
but this is presented as OK because "for whatever reason, she
felt safe" with him. A character confronts her fears after
being mugged and beaten.
Families can talk about what it means to follow one's dreams. Some teens feel like they are on a conveyor belt, doing what is expected rather than what they really want. Should parents support a year off, or push for college because they know that is beneficial for the future? Did parents want to do something different before they chose the career they are in? Families can also talk about expectations for sexual experiences. Why were two of the young women in the book disappointed by their first time having sex?
Common Sense Media Review
Teens who wonder why they're going to college when they have
no idea what they want to do with their lives may identify with
the characters' desire to travel or try a career first. The
book doesn't offer easy success, though, as Harper struggles
with her literary aspirations and Sophie waits tables while
auditioning for commercials. Girls with their own BFFs will
appreciate the foursome's strong bonds, even while miles
apart.
However, despite cribbing an obvious page from Ann Brashares' superior The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants , Bass Ackwards doesn't recreate Sisterhood's magic with its four main characters. That's because Sisterhood's charm stemmed from its relatable characters, while Bass Ackwards expects readers to identify with self-absorbed, gorgeous high school grads who whine because they have to go to Harvard. Sophie is especially grating as she expects worship by all men, including the movie star she's dating after a month in L.A. Their actions often seem contrary to their personalities, and the men in their lives are unusually eager to put up with their shenanigans.
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