Liz Ruckdeschel and Sara James. What if … All the Boys Wanted You? New York: Random House, 2006. Paperback ISBN 10: 0-385-73297-X, US$ 8.95.

Review by Laurel Petrulionis

What if… is an intriguing look into the minds of teenage girls around the world. The book mixes second and third person together, allowing the reader to make decisions for the characters, and to read the consequences of their choices. The main character is Haley Miller who has been going to her new school for only a few months. The readers, who get to choose the plot direction in this interactive novel, make his/her first decision, which is vital for Haley’s personality throughout the book. Will Haley hang out with Coco, the school goddess, or Irene and the other "artsy people" and punks? From there, the reader can send her on trips to California, parties, Spanish projects, and even try to solve the mystery of the Cafeteria Thefts. No matter which path the reader chooses, they will end up in a wild ride of narratives and choices that will leave the reader anxious to read the book over and over again. Though this book had a good concept, the narratives in between the choices aren't very smooth, and the reader might not understand all that is said, because the choices can lead to the same narrative. Also, readers should be warned that this book contains references to the darker sides of "teenage popularity" including underage drinking, strip poker, and sexual references.