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A review by freybrarian
Past Perfect by Leila Sales
4.0
(My reviews are intended for my own info as a language arts teacher: they serve as notes and reflections for teaching and recommending to students. Therefore, spoilers may be present but will be hidden.)
SUMMARY: Admittedly, lite teen romance is really not my thing. I started Past Perfect with pretty low expectations; I just wanted a change of pace from my recent reads. However, Leila Sales pleasantly surprised me with this funny, quick read with a very unique setting.
Chelsea Glaser is a sixteen-year-old historical reenactor who is struggling to get over a recent breakup. She takes some solace in the familiarity of her job at Essex Historical Colonial Village, knowing that her ex, Ezra Gorman, will be nowhere nearby...until he is. Ezra is the newest weapons magazine worker at Essex. Meanwhile, Essex's teen employees and the next-door Civil War Reenactmentland's employees are engaged in a full-on prank war. This adds further complication to Chelsea's life, as she has fallen for one of the enemy.
There is a lot to like about this book. Reading about the quirks of working in a historical village tourist trap was really fun. As Chelsea, aka Elizabeth Connelly (her employee alias), advises her friend, "Most people just want to know your name, whether you're overheated, and where they can find the nearest toilet. But some people also want you to know that they are really, really good at Colonial history" (12). The pranks also add to the fun. On the other hand, there were a couple of things that bugged me a little about Past Perfect. For one thing, the main characters, Chelsea, Ezra, Fiona, and Dan, had too-similar personalities. Unique, complex characters are the biggest selling point, for me, with realistic fiction. The other thing is that, at times, the protagonist was downright mean. The sarcastic, sixteen-year-old-ish comments are one thing, but she constantly ragged on fellow reenactor Bryan and the local popular girls. I just became less and less empathetic toward Chelsea as the book went on. Too bad, because dialogue like the following almost redeemed her:
"I've had lots of boyfriends before."
"Cool." She looked wholly unimpressed.
"I mean, not a slutty number of boyfriends. But not just Ezra and a Civil Warrior, either. Basically, what I'm saying is that I've had a normal number of boyfriends." (269) Love it! Just wish Sales would have toned down some of Chelsea's biting remarks.
READABILITY: Super-easy read. I would recommend this to my students who enjoy the Princess Diaries series, or want a romance that is more 'lite' on the issues than a Sarah Dessen novel.
APPROPRIATENESS: The only red flag here is some profanity. I think Past Perfect would be a great option for my eighth graders.
SUMMARY: Admittedly, lite teen romance is really not my thing. I started Past Perfect with pretty low expectations; I just wanted a change of pace from my recent reads. However, Leila Sales pleasantly surprised me with this funny, quick read with a very unique setting.
Chelsea Glaser is a sixteen-year-old historical reenactor who is struggling to get over a recent breakup. She takes some solace in the familiarity of her job at Essex Historical Colonial Village, knowing that her ex, Ezra Gorman, will be nowhere nearby...until he is. Ezra is the newest weapons magazine worker at Essex. Meanwhile, Essex's teen employees and the next-door Civil War Reenactmentland's employees are engaged in a full-on prank war. This adds further complication to Chelsea's life, as she has fallen for one of the enemy.
There is a lot to like about this book. Reading about the quirks of working in a historical village tourist trap was really fun. As Chelsea, aka Elizabeth Connelly (her employee alias), advises her friend, "Most people just want to know your name, whether you're overheated, and where they can find the nearest toilet. But some people also want you to know that they are really, really good at Colonial history" (12). The pranks also add to the fun. On the other hand, there were a couple of things that bugged me a little about Past Perfect. For one thing, the main characters, Chelsea, Ezra, Fiona, and Dan, had too-similar personalities. Unique, complex characters are the biggest selling point, for me, with realistic fiction. The other thing is that, at times, the protagonist was downright mean. The sarcastic, sixteen-year-old-ish comments are one thing, but she constantly ragged on fellow reenactor Bryan and the local popular girls. I just became less and less empathetic toward Chelsea as the book went on. Too bad, because dialogue like the following almost redeemed her:
"I've had lots of boyfriends before."
"Cool." She looked wholly unimpressed.
"I mean, not a slutty number of boyfriends. But not just Ezra and a Civil Warrior, either. Basically, what I'm saying is that I've had a normal number of boyfriends." (269) Love it! Just wish Sales would have toned down some of Chelsea's biting remarks.
READABILITY: Super-easy read. I would recommend this to my students who enjoy the Princess Diaries series, or want a romance that is more 'lite' on the issues than a Sarah Dessen novel.
APPROPRIATENESS: The only red flag here is some profanity. I think Past Perfect would be a great option for my eighth graders.