Second Helpings: A Jessica Darling Novel

by Megan McCafferty

Book Overview

Critics and readers alike fell in love with "Sloppy Firsts, " McCafferty's first novel and the debut of the saucy, irreverent Jessica Darling. Well, Jessica is a senior now at Pineville High. Fall in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609807919
• ISBN13: 9780609807910
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Broadway Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A teenage male's perspective.

It appears that there are an exorbitant number of female reviews of this book, and few (or none) which are written by males. Not surprising, since the book is aimed at an audience lacking a Y-chromosome. Yet here I am, a 17-year old typical (not) teenage male, writing a review for a book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Jessica's dry-wit was a pleasant backdrop for a story written with a solid premise and foundation. However, despite my enjoyment of this book, and my five-star rating, I found that there had a few aches from this book, things that, albeit being small, made me wonder as to what the author was thinking when she wrote it. First and foremost, was my profound dislike of Jessica. Yes I know that she is witty, intelligent and observant. But she also happens to be the saddest sort of hypocrite imaginable. A large portion of the book is centered around Jess's differences from all other females. Yet, she acts exactly the same. She takes the same critical approach to many of the people in her life (Sara and Manda) but will still hand around them simply because they are her past, to which she doesn't want to turn her back. Also, I would have hoped that Jessica would not turn out to be the hormone-driven girl she is. She refers to Manda as a skank (no arguments) but she herself cannot stop thinking of guys. Her obsession with Marcus, with a pause for Len, being just one example. Second: the author's inability to tie in Hope's life in any way shape or form into Jessica's communiqu?s. Clearly, the story is set around J.D and Hope is simply a foil to enhance to former. Yet it is shocking that in two years worth of soul-pouring (I've yet to read Charmed Thirds), Hope has hardly been given two lines for her own life. Sure Megan managed to slot her in at the end, but this is more of a last minute realization on her part that she had completely forgotten about the character was the premise for the writing of these two journals. I wanted to get to know Hope, not as the wall to which Jessica writes, but as her friend. I wanted to know her own issues and what she got out of her relationship with Jess, which otherwise seemed entirely single-ended, in favour of Jessica. And my final rant to conclude this spiel, is about Jessica and Marcus. One of the most enjoyable parts of the book was the building up their relationship, Yet I was utterly disappointed (though probably from a personal point of view) that Jessica had sex with him on their first official day (hours even) of going out. Yes, it didn't ruin their relationship (I'll leave that for college), but it made it seem all too unreal. Yes they loved each other, and for quite some time before, but it was still their first official day going out. What kind of message are you sending, when Jessica Darling, the girl that countless pre-teens will look up to, has sex on her first day going out? (Not McCafferty's concern, I know, but should have still been considered). What made up for it all and allowed me to

Almost as good as the first

In the sequel to Sloppy Firsts we find Jessica Darling agonizing over both her future and her love life. Jessica finally decides to move on from what happened with Marcus and begins dating her academic rival, Len Levy. But Jessica's feelings for Marcus aren't as buried as she'd like them to be, which doesn't bode well for her and Lens' relationship. Meanwhile, Jessica is determined to make the right choice for college so she isn't miserable for the next four years as well. She has her heart set on Columbia but after the 9/11 attacks she has second thoughts about attending a school in New York.I liked this book almost as much as the first one which is to say I liked it a whole darn lot. I was happy that the book continued to be realistic instead of descending into teen romance mush. I was satisfied with the ending and it seemed pretty final but I still can't help but want to read about Jessica's college exploits. Anyway, fans of the first book will be happy with this one.

Even more biting and real then the first...

In Megan McCafferty's Second Offering in the Jessica Darling sagas, we get introduced to her life as a Senior. With even more pessimistic yet realistic views of life as a suburban teenager, get ready for the rollercoaster ride of Jessica's life as she goes through new steps in boyfriends, sex-type-stuff, friends, dealing with the past, her family, and altogether your typical teenager life.The thing I love about this book is that its SO real. The average teen book out there puts the main character in some weird crazy situation that only a small majority can relate to: ex, death of a parent, living in a trailer park, etc. etc. McCafferty isn't afraid to address the fact that hwile in the GRAND scheme of things JD's probs are probably trivial, in her life, they are her world. Which is why i think I (and many others) can relate.If you're looking for a book where you feel at one with the characters and the plot, definately pick up Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings for a sometimes sad, sometimes touching, sometimes downright painfully hilariously embarassing and ALWAYS real plot!!!

Terrific

I loved Second Helpings, and it's been years since I was in high school. It's a great story, very funny. The action in the novel takes place from July 2001-June 2002 in New Jersey high school student Jessica Darling's life. She spends part of her summer at writing camp, and then comes home to deal with the trials and tribulations of modern high school life and her senior year--college selection, boyfriends, mad crushes, friends, enemies. The novel takes the form of Jessica's diary, so we are privy to her innermost thoughts--many of which concern Marcus--an obsession that has followed her around since we last saw Jessica in Sloppy Firsts. Jessica is a great narrator--funny, sarcastic, poignant, heartbreaking, and even at times infuriating. This is a terrific novel and you certainly don't have to read Sloppy Firsts to enjoy it, but read Sloppy Firsts first--it is an excellent novel, just as strong as this one. I think anyone would enjoy this novel--it certainly does not need to be limited to the young adult crowd. Enjoy.

quote OMIGOD unquote

AAAAAAAAH!!!! This book was soooo good. The first one was amazing, but this was even better. Jessica Darling is back in this hilarious novel about her senior year. While she is fertile once again, she is still a virgin and still angry at He Who Shall Remain Nameless (the Dreg-turned-genius formerly known as Marcus Flutie). Jess faces many of the same problems as before, with some new ones such as her not-too-subtle grandmother Gladdie, where to go to college, how to avoid Marcus as well as the Clueless Two, and dealing with a pregnant Bethany. McCafferty's second novel has the same writing style that made you fall in love with Jessica in the first place. Observant and sarcastic, Jess is one of the most relatable characters in teen literature. A supporting cast of characters like Percy aka Pepe, Len Levy, Gladdie, even Paul Parlipiano and Taryn Baker make this book even more enjoyable.It just screams, READ ME!!!!