My Loco Life

By Lee McClain

An adopted teen needs to learn Spanish to win a fashion scholarship, and she's found a boy who's offered to teach her--if she'll pose as his oh-so-proper girlfriend for his family. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843956615
• ISBN13: 9780843956610
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Smooch
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.5" x 4.3"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

A story that talks about real teen issues.

I enjoyed the thuth and reality of this story. It talks about the foster system and what happens to kids as they grow up. I enjoyed Alicia's personality and drive to never give. I do wish the story was a little longer, it didn't seem to really touch on a lot of the issues that Brianna had. What were the reasons why she had such a hard life? I hope there is a story about her adventure in Madrid.

warm insightful teen tale

Teen Alicia Jimenez likes her latest foster parents and enjoys her new high school especially since the school offers her a design class. She hopes that her talent will enable her to win a scholarship to attend design school in Spain. However, Alicia accepts that besides having to win a competition, she has one minor problem. She has not spoken Spanish since her family abandoned her years ago. She turns to the hunk next door Hector Cardona to tutor her in speaking Spanish though she would not mind instruction in biology too. However, he is dating the school queen, her rival in the fashion design contest. Alicia sets her mind at winning the competition for the scholarship and for Hector. In her third "My Life" novel (see MY ALTERNATE LIFE and MY ABNORMAL LIFE), Lee McClain provides a warm insightful teen tale that young adults will enjoy because they will understand and commiserate with Alicia. While Hector is a caring hunk, Alicia owns the tale as she sets goals for herself that she strives to achieve. For a change, the foster parents are nice, kind people and not out of a psycho ward. This is a fine entry in a wonderful series. Harriet Klausner

Like Pringles, you can't stop after just one - or, in this case, after one page...

Alicia Jiminez is sick of people assuming that she's your regular, run-of-the-mill Latina, simply because she has olive colored skin, and dark eyes and hair. She's especially sick of her new classmates at Linden High speaking to her in Spanish. After all, she may be Latina, but she doesn't know a word of the language, but to save face must pretend to understand what people are saying to her - even though it sounds like nothing more than gibberish. But Alicia has more important things to worry about than a foreign language. Numero uno on her list? Designing a one-of-a-kind hot and sexy dress in an attempt to win a scholarship to the fashion institute of Madrid - a place that will help her escape the foster system that she has been a part of for years. Second on her to-do list? Track down her hot neighbor and enlist him to help Alicia learn the language of love - Spanish - with a little help from his sisters many issues of Spanish COSMO. And last, but not least, Alicia must avoid pushy parents - or, rather, foster parents - whiny girlfriends, and a ridiculous computer game, otherwise her dreams will be dashed forever, and she'll be stuck in the same place for the rest of eternity. It may sound like an easy idea, but for Alicia, it's sure to be difficult and tricky - all rolled into one. Lee McClain is, without a doubt, one of the new controversial writers for young adults on the market today, based on the fact that she touches on issues that many writers ignore - the foster system, adoption, and various other serious issues. MY LOCO LIFE is no exception to this trend. Alicia is a brazen, interesting character, who refuses to be pushed around, and plans on making her way to the top - no matter what she has to do to get there. Her quirky personality, accompanied by her to-die-for fashion sense make her an appealing character, and will leave teen readers clamoring for McClain's next novel. An introspective new novel that must be read in one sitting - like Pringles, you can't stop after just one - or, in this case, after one page. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper