Mates, Dates, and Inflatable Bras

Bibliography: Hopkins, C. (2003). Mates, dates, and inflatable bras. New York: Simon Pulse.

Genre: Chick Lit

Reading Level/Interest Age: 13-15

Reader's Annotation: Fourteen-year old Lucy Lovering still looks twelve; consequently, she is not at all happy when her best friend starts hanging out with the beautiful and exotic new girl at school or when she finds herself attracted to an older boy who turns out to be the new girl's half brother.

Author: Hopkins was born in Manchester, England on January 23, 1953 and lived in Kenya before returning to Manchester when she was eleven. In addition to writing, Hopkins has worked as an occupational therapist in a mental hospital, gotten a degree in comparative religion and training to teach it, taught meditation, and worked as an aromatherapist. She has 49 books published in 30 different countries.

Plot Summary: "A turning point is exactly what Lucy Lovering does NOT want. Everything is changing around her, and suddenly she has to make all sorts of decisions. Everyone else knows who and what she wants to be except [Lucy]. [Lucy's best friend] Izzie has become friends with the glamorous Nesta, and Lucy isn't certain she likes a threesome. Nesta and Izzie look sixteen, but Lucy, at fourteen, can still pass for a twelve-year-old.

But then one day Lucy sees the most wonderful boy crossing the street, and things do start to change – in all areas of her life." (back cover)

Critical Evaluation: Hopkins gives us a light-hearted and amusing glimpse into the life of a teen-age girl. Lucy’s fears and insecurities will be familiar to most girls her age, and her method of dealing with them is both entertaining and informative. Lucy’s belief that others have it better than she does accurately portrays the self-involvement and self-pity of most teens, if not most people as well, but Hopkins deftly teaches us that everything is not how it appears. In this short novel, Lucy comes to recognize that even seemingly perfect people feel fear and doubt while at the same time learning to value her own unique talents. The author also includes some fun breaks in narrative perspective when readers get to see the lists that Lucy makes and the homework that she writes. This adds a touch of realism as well as variety that makes the novel easy to read and fast paced. Some of the supporting characters are sketchily rendered, but that is in keeping with Lucy’s self-obsession and keeps the plot moving along briskly.

Curriculum Ties:

Book Talk Ideas:
• focus on Lucy's relationship with Izzie
• read the scene where Lucy first sees Tony
• focus on Lucy's confusion over her educational path/career choice

Challenge Issues: emphasis on appearance instead of character, ridicule of teachers and adults

Challenge Defense:
• Explain library selection policies
• Provide reviews of the book from reputable sources
• Explain library challenge procedures
• Offer challenge form

Why was this text included in this project? Read as part of Chick Lit genre presentation for LIBR 265.