Barnholdt, Lauren
Simon Pulse. 2007. ISBN: 1416913181
Summary
Courtney and her ex-boyfriend Jordan had planned a road trip to the college they will both be attending before they broke up. When Courtney’s parents refuse to buy her a last minute plane ticket, she has to face the ordeal of the road trip with the ex that she still has feelings for, even if he left her for a girl he met on MySpace. Through the alternating viewpoints of Courtney and Jordan we follow them on their road trip, which takes many twists and turns, both emotional and real. We are also transported to the past to learn how the shy, studious Courtney and the outgoing, handsome Jordan came to fall in love with each other, and about the secret that tore them apart. Will the trip allow them to resolve their differences in time to to start college, or will they go their separate ways after the road trip is over?
Critical Review
This romantic novel set in a realistic style is both mature and entertaining, and will be especially of interest to teen girls. The setup for the story, taking a road trip with an ex after a recent breakup is bound to intrigue many readers. As a light romance novel, Two-Way Street does not disappoint. It starts with an interesting concept, several plot twists, and some revealed secrets which ultimately lead to a hopeful conclusion. Although it does not contain any real issues relevant to teens, it does connect to teens on an everyday level. The teens portrayed in the book are realistic, which is more than many of today’s teen romance books offer. The characters are all normal teens with normal teen problems, like the dilemma of not being able to cancel a road trip to college after a breakup, and having a sometimes exasperating best friend.
The romance element is also more realistic than other romance novels. Courtney and Jordan are an unlikely match with a normal relationship, until the relationship ends because of external circumstances, and even after the external circumstances are resolved, the novel does not have a fairy tale ending. The relationship is also not a fairy tale one, because the characters do not pretend to have been in a perfect relationship before it was over. Even though they were in love, they had to still learn to live with their differences, just like all real-life relationships. The book is suited for older teens because of its mature elements and language, and will especially be of interest to upper grades because of its themes of relationships and starting college.
Reader’s Annotation
After their breakup, Courtney is forced to take a road trip with her ex-boyfriend to college.
About the Author
Lauren Barnholdt is an author of teen, tween, and chapter books. She does not have longer biographies published, even on her web page, but she does have a blog where she shares news about her books and her personal life, although it hasn’t been updated for a year. More up-t0-date information can be found on her Twitter account, @LaurenBarnholdt.
“Lauren Barnholdt is the author of the teen novels The Thing About the Truth, Sometimes It Happens, One Night That Changes Everything, Two-Way Street, and Watch Me. She is also the author of the middle-grade novels The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney, Devon Delaney Should Totally Know Better, Four Truths and a Lie, Rules for Secret-Keeping, Fake Me a Match, and Girl Meets Ghost. She lives in Waltham, Massachusetts.” Simon & Schuster
Website: http://laurenbarnholdt.com/
Genre
Contemporary fiction, realistic fiction.
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking Ideas
- Talk about the inheren dilemma of taking a three-day-long road trip with an ex.
- Discuss the unlikely relationship between Courtney and Jordan.
Interest/Reading Level
Grade 9+/ATOS 4.3
Challenge Issues: language, sexual content, alcohol use.
Challenge Defense Ideas
- Have a copy of the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights to show/give to patron.
- In addition to, or in place of the above, explain library policy of inclusion of information that might be controversial. For example, Pasadena Public Library, Philosophy of Selection. Have a printed copy ready, with appropriate sections highlighted.
- Explain the parental rights and responsibilities with their children’s library use. Explain the different card designations and the parents’ right to monitor or restrict borrowing of materials.
- Depending on the library’s policy, either have paperwork to fill out for formal challenges, or the contact information of those who handle challenges.
- Give examples of book reviews from School Library Journal, Library Journal, or BookList. Note any awards that the book received.
Reasons for Inclusion
Teen Picks 