title: Kissing Vanessa
author:  Simon Cheshire 
description: Grade 6-10Told from a 15-year-old boy's point of view, this humorous novel is set in Great Britain. When a beautiful new girl comes to town, it's love at first sight for Kevin. The trouble is, he's not a "babe magnet" like his friend Jack. In fact when it comes to girls, Kev is clueless. Luckily, Jack, who is writing a book on how to attract the opposite sex, is willing to reveal his secrets. While Kev is doubtful at first about following his friend's advice, desperation finally propels him into doing so. Unfortunately, Jack's <i>Girlfriend Management the Easy Way</i>lands Kev in a series of comic situations that make him appear to be dorkier than he really is. Of course, true love wins out in the end. Several qualities set this book apart from the typical teen romance. It glitters with a sarcastic wit that is similar to that found in Louise Rennison's novels. Kev's thoughts and feelings about his situation are so exaggerated that readers will laugh out loud, and they'll find his slightly eccentric sidekick equally funny. This is a fast and fun read.<i>Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID</i> <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  Just One Kiss
  
  “This unpleasant thing you must confess—is it the reason you’ve been hiding
  from me?” Nick asked.
  
  “Yes. I’ve been an awful coward. I beg your pardon for refusing your calls
  this week. I did want to see you, but well…I was afraid of what you’d say, and
  I didn’t know how to explain what I’d done, and I’m…ashamed of myself, Lord
  Dare.”
  
  She looked away from him, down at her hands, but Nick, who was truly concerned
  by this point, took her chin between his fingers and raised her face to his.
  “Don’t look away from me, Hyacinth. Just tell me what’s got you so worried,
  and we’ll find a way to…”
  
  Nick trailed off when her gaze met his, and he was horrified to find her eyes
  had filled with tears. “Oh, sweetheart, no.” He moved closer and took her face
  between his hands, and all at once everything else—the strange business with
  the pianoforte, her mysterious disappearance this week—all of it faded into
  insignificance at the sight 