Linda
Oatman High. That Selfie Girl. (Gravel Road series) Saddleback 2015 191p $10.95 ISBN 978-1-68021-060-6 ms/hs High/Low E-BN
Simply stated, the summary does not tell the reader just
how good this book is. Author Linda
Oatman High tells a frightening story about a young girl who is vain. She lets that vanity lead to her
death. When she is driving and veers
to avoid a squirrel, she crashes
the car and dies.
But her life on earth can’t be over, can it? Macy knows of a plot to carry out a school
shooting, and she must notify someone that her friend Ryan is going to hurt others, and then himself. To emphasize the idea that constant posts are appearing on Twitter, Oatman High
entitles each chapter with a hash tag,
which is is simultaneously clever and
disconcerting. Some chapters are short,
such as “#DeadPeopleHaveFeelingsToo”, in which Macy reveals
a secondary theme in just thirteen words presented in a shopping-list format.
Readers will be on edge as they follow Macy’s journey up to heaven, where she meets
Samuel, her guide. He helps her navigate
her journey successfully, providing answers to her “#AfterLifeFAQ’s” (“frequently asked
questions”), perhaps the most interesting interpretation of life in heaven
ever, and “#OneMoreQuestion”, a chapter in which Macy tries to ascertain whether or not she can
let people at her school know about the impending shooting. As if this weren’t enough to entice young
readers to continue, Macy meets a recently deceased young man, and the two hit
it off immediately. This extra love relationship
is what lures reluctant readers to continue their journey through That
Selfie Girl, adding a bit of spice to a book that already features multiple
themes, many examples of figurative language, and wonderful characters. The less-skilled reader will not even know he/she is
reading a Hi/Lo book; readers of all abilities will find themselves engrossed
in the content, format, and poetry of this book.
Summary: When Macy Elaine Rain posts a selfie, her car veers out of control
and she dies. In prose/poetry format,
she tells the story of life in heaven and how it impacts those remaining on
earth.
Afterlife-Fiction,
Vanity-Fiction --Martha
Squaresky
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