Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Language: One or two swearwords.

Sexual Content: Fair amount of kissing. Girl’s thoughts about wanting to “do more” with her boyfriend, some day. There is one short passage where she talks about how her breasts respond to cold. This book has been banned at some libraries due to this passage.

Synopsis

Ninth-grader Sophie has the cutest boyfriend in school, Dylan. But it doesn’t stop her from thinking that other boys are cute too. In fact, on any given day, she might just want to run up and hug one of several boys that cross her path. But she breaks up with Dylan, because the better she gets to know him, the less she wants to kiss him. She is surprised one day to find herself sitting in the art museum next to the biggest outcast in her school, Murphy. Well, that’s what people call him. And that’s what they call everyone who is a dweeb: Murphy. As in “You’re such a Murphy.” His name is a slur. It’s been that way since elementary school. They both love art, however, and Sophie spends the next two weeks falling in love with Murphy. The reaction from her schoolmates is cruelly negative. At first she tries to hide their relationship, but eventually has to make a choice.

This book is written in non-rhyming poetry and is very engaging. Sophie really has a voice, and shows great spirit in dealing with peer pressure. Warning, though, there is a companion book written from Murphy’s perspective, called “What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know.” His sexual thoughts are very frequent in that book.