Olga's Girls Books

In SLOPPY FIRSTS, Jessica Darling dealt with adjusting to life without her best friend, Hope, having feelings for the school rebel, Marcus, and finding who she really is as a person. You know, typical teenager stuff.

In the sequel to SLOPPY FIRSTS, SECOND HELPINGS, Jess finds herself dealing with even more problems as she starts her senior year of high school. After spending the summer at SPECIAL, a summer writing camp for (you guessed it) special high school students, Jess decides that she wants to 1). become a writer and 2). attend the prestigious Columbia University in New York City.

The only problem is that she now has the tough job of convincing her parents.

With Len Levy, her brilliant competition for Valedictorian, crushing on her, and her determination to get over Marcus with only the help of her blonde Barbie doll neighbor, Bridget, Jess gets more than she bargains for as she struggles to plan her future and rediscover her past.

In my opinion, SECOND HELPINGS is even better than the terrific prequel SLOPPY FIRSTS. Through her shocking and entertaining observations about everything from her high school peers to "hot" writing instructors, readers identify with Jess's plights as she tries to reach her dream of getting out of New Jersey suburbia. Another touching book, another realistic story, another fantastic read from Megan McCafferty.

Reviewed by: Amanda Dissinger

After a cliff hanger of an ending that we experienced with "Sloppy Firsts", "Second Helpings" is a welcomed read.

Jessica and Marcus's relationship is much different in this novel, than in the previous. Mostly due to the fact that Marcus had confessed he originally was interested in Jessica as a sexual conquest. I, once again, was thoroughly entertained by the character of Marcus Flutie. He has this inane ability to understand people and their motivations. And by people, I mostly mean Jessica.

Compared to "Sloppy Firsts", I think that "Second Helpings" has improved. We now are quite familiar with all of the characters, and yet McCafferty continues to surprise us with revelations about everyone.

While "Sloppy Firsts" ended in heartbreak, "Second Helpings" ends in a very different manner. I think that readers will be entertained to learn how Jessica deals with the changes in her life, and the discovery of different aspects of the lives of her friends. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a quick, and entertaining read.

I do not know if I liked "Second Helpings" better than "Sloppy Firsts" but I know I am awaiting to read the third (which I just ordered).
"Second Helpings," was LOL funny and very interesting. The protagonist has an awesome outlook and personality that keeps you glued to the book. This book is good for young adults, as well as adults (I am 22).
One of my favorite books!

I bought this book for my younger sister. She loved it so much she had me read it, although I am out of my teen years this book was entertaining in reminding you how "dramatic" teen life was. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good laugh.

I absolutely adore the Jessica Darling books. I love that these books are amusing yet not totally trivial. Pick it up, and you won't be able to put it down. I rated the book 4/5 stars because, let's face it, nobody actually talks like Jessica and her friends.

My Christmas gift to myself was to read Delia's Way. I want more - when is the next book? Or else I am coming to Paso Robles to sit at your feet and listen to stories about growing up in Panama. I particularly liked the mixture of English and Spanish, not necessarily having the English right after the Spanish. It stretched my language abilities, and I enjoy the use of Spanglish (mixing English and Spanish words together in the same sentence).
;-)

Thank you for a great read!

(...) I couldn't put it down and I found it superior to many Oprah Book Club selections. It's an elegant coming of age story set in Panama. It brings the Latin American culture to the reader in a gentle and accurate portrayal of a family with its conflicts and passions. This book reaches readers from teen age girls to adults with its exotic setting and compeling plot.

I read this book because BOOKLIST recommended it as "After Oprah Read-Alike". I couldn't put it down and I found it superior to many Oprah Book Club selections. It's an elegant coming of age story set in Panama. It brings the Latin American culture to the reader in a gentle and accurate portrayal of a family with its conflicts and passions. This book reaches readers from teen age girls to adults with its exotic setting and compeling plot.

"Delia's Way" immerses the reader into the culture, traditions, and landscape of Panama. Delia Pineda heads a cast of memorable characters. Hers is the compelling story of a girl's struggle to reach womanhood.

The family tale focuses on a young girl's emergence from her pre-teen years to adulthood -- struggling through her own biological mysteries while trying to adapt to an older sister's dominance. Every family member plays a role in Delia's growth while their homeland faces its adjustment problems thru & beyond WW II and the presence of the Americans governing the Canal Zone Isthmus. Delia's maturation should offer many non-Spanish speaking readers insights into a young woman's struggles within a different culure, a different era. An interesting read!

It was little late, but this was so~~~cheap, so I was safisfied with that.

I am fortunate enough to have met Ms. Elaine Stone herself and find her style to be that of great elegance, sophistication, grace, and poshness. She is by far the most fashionable person I have yet to meet. Reading The Dynamics of Fashion as my textbook for my FM114 class I found it very informant and recommend it to everyone, even those who are not a student of fashion.

I am fortunate enough to have met Ms. Elaine Stone herself and find her style to be that of great elegance, sophistication, grace, and poshness. She is by far the most fashionable person I have yet to meet. Reading The Dynamics of Fashion as my textbook for my FM114 class I found it very informant and recommend it to everyone, even those who are not a student of fashion.

This book is an excellent tool for all fashion students, or those just interested in learning more about the #1 money making industry in the U.S. Information on topics ranging from textiles to merchandising to cosmetics to retailing, and so much more. Very detailed, lots of pictures, helpful internet resources, glossary, and also the authors list of her 100 top apparel designers starting at Adolfo, ending at Yohji Yamamoto. This book was very helpful to me when I took the class Introduction to Fashion Merchandising.

Olga Masters has complied an interesting selcetion of short stories dealing with a range of issues. Her use of description is very powerful and often avoids describing step-by-step what is happening in a action sequence, instead describes the reaction from people and the effects of what has happened. This combined with her writing in third person creates an atmosphere for the reader like they are right in middle of the room watching.

Each story is told from th point of view of a middle aged woman or a little girl. The thing I like most about each story is the way they all end. It can be very fustraiting as we don't get told what will now happen but it is also very interesting. The thing I dislike most about the stories are the way they start, often in the middle of an action sequence and very confusing.

I would reccomend this book to people who enjoy reading from the point of veiw of adults aswell as children. Also for people who don't mind a selection of short stories that are set in very different times with very different characters to one another.