Bibliographic Citation:
Myracle, L. (2007). L8r, g8r. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
Summary:
Maddie, Angela and Zoe, the winsome threesome, have been friends
for years and they are finally seniors. High school has been challenging for
these three girls. They have dealt with boyfriends, too-flirty teachers,
gossiping, pranks and the like. (For their earlier stories, read ttyl and ttfn.) As their senior year is coming to a close, they continue to
do battle with their arch enemy, Jana, have to make decisions about boys and
college, and struggle with the fact that they won’t be right there for each
other anymore.
In this book, l8r,
g8r, Zoe makes a comment in the girls’ bathroom that causes Jana to strike
back. Zoe, being so wrapped up in her boyfriend Doug and planning to have sex
for the first time, doesn’t let Jana’s strike faze her much, but Angela and
Maddie take up the cause. This leads to a back and forth between the winsome
threesome and Jana. Maddie gets back together with her ex-boyfriend, making it
perfectly clear that she won’t give up her dream school for him, no matter how
much she cares for him. And Angela has trouble breaking up with a boy that she
doesn’t love, but who loves her and gives her a Jeep for Valentine’s Day. When
she is finally true to her feelings, she finds out that he hooked up with the
loathsome Jana before their breakup, sending her into a fit of anger and
self-pity.
Through instant messaging, they relive the events of their
daily lives, cheering each other on, challenging each other and being a voice
of reason (somewhat).
Impressions:
This book, and the others in the series, play up the
challenges teenage girls face in high school such as sticking by their friends,
beating back against bullies and the popular crowd and falling in and out of
love. While not every girl will experience every issue present, they will be
able to appreciate them and the friendship between Maddie, Angela and Zoe.
Library Use Suggestions:
I would use this book with older students, possibly in a girls’ book club, to examine the strength of friendships and the adversity friendships face in various forms. Discuss why they are close to their friends, what challenges have they faced with their friends and whether they became closer or if it pulled them permanently apart.
Reviews:
In this third book in the ttyl series, high schoolers
Angela, Zoe, and Maddie instant message their way through senior year. Like an
observer in a private chat room, readers are privy to the girls' all-out war
with archrival Jana, mixed feelings about their boyfriends, and hopes for
college. The superficial chatter quickly becomes tiresome, and there's not much
here beyond the IM gimmick.
(2007, January 1). [Review of l8r, g8r]. The Horn Book Guide. Retrieved from http://bookverdict.com/details.xqy?uri=Product-1103792.xml
The "Winsome Threesome" are back for their senior
year, and boy, do they have a lot to talk about! This third and final
installment about Maddie, Zoe, and Angela takes the girls in new directions,
and, with Jana (the series' antagonist) back with a vengeance, they are
struggling to retain their "bff" status. Rife with the daily drama of
modern-day high school, the book's appeal is widespread. As before, the story
is told through a series of instant-message and chat-room conversations and is
written entirely in that "language," which also adds to its appeal.
Suddenly, 200-plus pages don't seem like a lot, and reluctant readers gain a
sense of achievement having breezed through what appears to be quite a lengthy
novel. Be aware that as these teens mature, so does the book's content. Reading
the first two titles helps with understanding references to past events but is
not necessary to enjoy this one. Well written, thoughtful, and well developed,
this novel is the perfect conclusion for this series." Erika Kwasnik,
Norwich High School Library, NY" Copyright 2007 Media Source Inc.
Kwasnik, E. (2007, June 1). [Review of l8r, g8r]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://bookverdict.com/details.xqy?uri=Product-1103792.xml
