Scenarios for Girls by Nicole O’Dell

I’m holding in my hands the very first real books that I had a part in bringing to publication. It’s pretty cool to open the covers to read the words/ paragraphs/ scenes that I critiqued for Young Adult author Nicole O’Dell shortly after we hooked up within a larger crit group last summer. She’s got a unique concept here, specifically for girls in the 10-15 age bracket. In each Scenarios for Girls novel, young teen girls face a pivotal decision in their lives.

In Magna, Molly Jacobs gets a job at a hip clothing store, though her closest friends had also applied in hopes of deep discounts on their favorite outfits. Friends as well as the school’s in-crowd begin to pressure Molly into an ethical slide until one day she faces the decision. Should she give in to the pressure and keep her new-found popularity, or do what she knows is right?

The situation Kate Walker faces in Making Waves is a bit different. She’s always loved to swim and this year she is the star of the school’s team. With her obsession to be the best comes the temptation to find ways to give herself an edge when she’s tired. It doesn’t take long for Kate to face her big decision–will she succumb to the pressure her teammates place on her to do anything to win, or will she decide that enough is enough?

In both cases, from this fork in the road author Nicole O’Dell allows her characters something real life teens don’t get–a chance to explore the consequences of both decisions. Follow Molly and Kate as they make the right choice…or the wrong one. Each novel closes with a decision page for the young reader to read and sign. In this way, girls can think through these issues (hopefully) before they’re faced with something similar in their own lives. They’ve basically made a pre-decision.

I think it’s a terrific concept. These two books, just out April first, follow Truth or Dare and All That Glitters that released in 2009. Two more are contracted for release in 2011. I’ve read (and critiqued) the next two as well, and assure you that Nicole O’Dell is just getting rolling.

Anyone who cares about the tween/teen girls in their life should pick up one, two–or all four!–of these books. Yes, I was given copies for review, but no one told me I had to like them! I’m excited to pass them on to the girls I know. Girls and parents alike should check out Nicole’s website and sign up for her newsletter, Choices.