Going Vintage
By : Lindsey Leavitt
Going Vintage
Published By :Bloomsbury USA Children Reprint EditionApril 4,2014
ISBN:978-0-545-62990-4
Genre:Contemporary
Grades Levels :7th and up
Awards: no awards
Personal Review
Goodreads
When Mallory finds out her boyfriend of over a year has been cyber cheating on her, she feels betrayed not only by her boyfriend, but by technology. If there were no such things as “Friendspace” or “Authentic Life” her boyfriend wouldn’t have been betraying her with a girl named “BubbleYum” his cyber wife. When Mallory finds a list her Grandma made back in 1962, when she was sixteen, she decides to ditch modern: cell phones, computers, internet, and go vintage. Mallory decides to fulfill the goals spelled out on the list. She wants to get back to a simpler life where girls only had to worry about sewing their homecoming dress or starting a pep club. Sticking to authentic 1962 proves to be more difficult than Mallory imagined, but she’s determined to get her life focused on the more important things in life. - Racheal
“Find a steady,” number four on the list may not be a hard acquisition since Oliver, Jeremy’s cousin has stepped in to join her pep club. Oliver gets Mallory more than Jeremy ever did. Should Mallory move on when she’s so recently out of a long-term relationship? Often times these things are not our choice.
This was a cute and funny novel dealing with heartbreak and moving on. There’s a sweet romance that’s slow to develop, as well. Ms. Leavitt did a wonderful job with the wisecracking and witty humor. Although, I must say that best lines and jokes were delivered by Ginny, Mallory’s younger sister. She got to say fun things like this:
She was pure spunk and fun. While I liked Mallory, she was a little distant to me and some of her decisions I couldn’t quite relate to. I wish she spoke up for herself a little more or maybe we saw a little more character growth. Also, Mallory’s mother left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt she got off way too easy in the end. Still, this story and the supporting characters made for a fun and easy novel to read.
When reading this I was struck by how reliant we are on technology. If I forget my cell phone at home when going to work, I just about have a panic attack and feel so naked without it. It’s a wonder that we all got by without one. Remembering the information I was limited to for school reports was brought back to mind when Mallory had to write a school report on the Industrial Revolution just by going to the library. We are so spoiled by immediate access to vast amounts of research and information at the tip of our fingers. Yet, we still managed. Do all parts of technology better our lives? It’s something to think about. Face to face interaction is becoming more of a rarity nowadays, with online communication becoming the norm . All in all, Going Vintage was a fast and fun read that had me laughing throughout.
Kirkus Reveiws
After discovering her boyfriend has a serious online relationship with another girl, Mallory very publicly dumps him on his social media site.
She complicates the situation by deciding to try to fulfill a to-do list her grandmother crafted at the beginning of her junior year of high school in 1962, a time Mallory thinks must have been much simpler than today. That means giving up the 21st-century technology she's accustomed to relying on—going vintage—and also becoming secretary of the pep club (that doesn't exist), sewing a dress for homecoming (she doesn't sew) and finding a steady boyfriend, among other challenges. She's aided by her loyal younger sister, Ginnie, and the growing affection of her ex's cousin, charming Oliver. Adding another level of concern to Mallory's bumpy ride is Ginnie's conviction that their shallow though earnest mother is having an affair and her misguided efforts to fix their parents' marriage. Mallory's appealing, sarcasm-tinged first-person narrative voice sculpts a likable teen mildly reminiscent of Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicolson. Although a far-too-convenient event proves Mallory was wrong about her grandmother's simpler life, that fails to derail an otherwise admirable look at the advantages, and the downsides, of modern technology—and serious relationships.
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Cited Works
- https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lindsey-leavitt/going-vintage/
- http://www.amazon.com/Going-Vintage-Lindsey-Leavitt/dp/1619631954/ref=sr_1_
- http://www.amazon.com/Sean-Griswolds-Head-Lindsey-Leavitt/dp/1599909111
- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18594377-the-chapel-wars
- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6506483-princess-for-hire