JEAN AND JOHNNY
by Beverly Cleary
When fifteen-year-old Jean Jarrett transfers her affections from television idol Kip Ladish to an arrogant classmate, the whole kaleidoscope of adult relationships overwhelms her. Socially inept, Jean's impulse is to act without guile in her pursuit of her new found beau, a strategy which time and experience prove to be ineffective. Her transformation from a drab little girl to a poised young lady, her trial and error struggle to adapt herself to a feminine role, set against a mid-western small town background, are treated in a refreshing manner. Beverly Cleary is perhaps better known for her books (Henry Huggins and others) for younger readers, but The Luckiest Girl and Fifteen gave her rating with Junior High and up. Hers is a revealing looking glass for the many readers who will instinctively identify themselves with Jean.