Also, just as important (and in my experience, even more rare) Castellucci created just enough characters to populate and tell the story, with no "extras" added because the author needed them to make a point or introduce an idea/conflict.
I had Boyproof on my to-read list for two reasons
- I wanted to compare the author's style in a novel vs. her first graphic novel, The Plain Janes , and
- Castellucci's writing has been used as an example of how to say a lot about a character in just a few words.
The story takes place in a pretty well-heeled Hollywood (CA) suburb, where the kids can choose to protest genetically-engineered food or try out to be an extra in an upcoming movie or TV show. It's a little bit trite, but then again, isn't that the definition of teen angst? Perhaps. (However you feel about that, the fact is the book resonates with a lot of teens.)
Victoria is "boyproof," according to her actress-mother, because she eschews all feminine clothing/makeup/hairstyles and instead prefers to dress like (the made-up-for-this-book) sci/fi movie character, Egg. What's more, Victoria insists friends call her "Egg."
Max Carter moves in and breaks Egg's shell (ha, ha) because he's as smart as she is, giving her some competition for the Valedictorian race, and because he's cute, too - making her think maybe "boyproof" isn't what she really wants to be.
As a mom, I'd be OK with my tween reading the book because it treats the confusion that comes about during adolescence seriously, but not too seriously. Also, the romantic interludes are just kisses (with some musings about groping) - there are no sex scenes.
I'd be interested to hear from readers on both sides of sci/fi fandom as to how the sci/fi elements worked in this book. While it certainly helps to have an understanding of sci/fi techniques (in books and on film), Boyproof is firmly rooted in reality - that is, a safe, suburban Hollywood, teenage version of reality.
(((a longer version of this review appears on the Epinions website, here)))
