Sharing Sam

January 2, 1995
Sleek writing (``Sam rode a motorcycle, no helmet. In the sea of entry-level Chevy sedans and sober parentmobiles, the big Harley in Student Lot B commanded attention'') and a highly specific Florida setting are among the many strengths of this romance-cum-tearjerker, second in the Love Stories series. On the very same day that Allison begins getting to know Sam, the mysterious new guy in school, she learns that Izzy's been diagnosed with brain cancer and has only a few months to live. Allison just can't find the right time to tell her best friend about her burgeoning romance, especially when Izzy develops a crush on Sam herself. Then Allison decides to make her best friend's last days truly unforgettable by convincing Sam to become Izzy's boyfriend instead of her own. This hokey plot gains some substance from the thoughtful characterizations and the logical, not entirely strife-free way in which the premise is developed, while Allison's tart, energetic first-person narration keeps the story from dissolving into an outright sobfest. A subplot involving Sam's beloved, eccentric grandfather balances the central romance and echoes its theme of letting go. Applegate's (Boyfriends and Girlfriends) effort is a cut above most entries in the genre. Ages 12-up. (Feb.)q

February 15, 2004
Gr. 6-12. By a prolific fiction-series author (Animorphs, Making Out, Remnants), this novel about a teen's death stands on its own. Alison's best friend, Izzy, who is dying, has a crush on Sam, a mysterious motorcycle-riding hunk. When Sam falls for Alison, she convinces reluctant Sam to pretend to love Izzy, so Izzy can have the boyfriend of her dreams before she dies. Centering more on whether Alison will admit her subterfuge than on emotions surrounding Alison and Izzy's friendship, the story isn't a tearjerker. But Alison's moral dilemma provides enough suspense to keep the pages turning, and the novel's quick pace, easy-to-grasp symbolism, and characters, who, though stereotypical, clearly articulate their emotions and reasoning, will make this a comfortable choice, especially for reluctant readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2004
Alison asks her new boyfriend Sam to pretend to like her best friendwho has just found out she has a brain tumorso that Izzy's last few months will be happy; heartache, of course, ensues. Poor character development and an overloaded plot (Sam is trying to take care of his senile grandfather on his own) weigh down the otherwise intriguing narrative.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)