“[R]eaders meeting Jessica for the first time will be charmed by this authentic and funny girl who makes well-tread territory feel as new as a pair of first-day-of-school sneakers.”–Publishers Weekly Continue reading Jessica Darling’s IT List is “authentic and funny.” Thanks, PW!
Read about the prequel to SLOPPY FIRSTS in this exclusive Q&A with Entertainment Weekly!
From BOOKLIST:
Jessica Darling, who first appeared as a high-schooler in Sloppy Firsts (2001), is back in this prequel series opener that sees her poised for the first day of seventh grade. And is she freaking out about starting Pineville Junior High? Of course. Luckily, or unluckily as it turns out, big sis Bethany provides her with a cheat sheet that’s a “Guaranteed Guide to Popularity, Prettiness, and Perfection.” These four items (get out your notepads) are as follows: “Wear something different every day”; “Make the CHEER TEAM!!!”; “Pick your first boyfriend wisely”; and “Stick with the IT clique.” This is easier said than done, as Jess becomes the cheer team mascot and finds she is not interested in any boys. On top of all that, her BFF Bridget is suddenly pretty and popular. While this doesn’t break tween ground, Jessica is a winning heroine, and as she stumbles and fumbles (and literally falls flat on her face), readers will laugh alongside her and, yes, cheer as she comes into her authentic self.
HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The Jessica Darling series was a New York Times best-seller, so the prequels, backed by a solid marketing campaign, should be similarly well received.
Introducing the middle grade prequel to SLOPPY FIRSTS.
I hadn’t even gotten to homeroom yet and I’d already discovered five hard truths about junior high:
1. My best friend had turned pretty.
2. She didn’t know it yet.
3. It wouldn’t be long before she did.
4. That knowledge would change everything between us.
5. And there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.
It’s the first day of seventh grade. Is Jessica Darling doomed for dorkdom?
New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty’s hilarious series opener will have you laughing, cringing, and cheering for Jessica Darling as she learns that being herself beats being popular, pretty & perfect any day.
ADVANCE PRAISE:
“My long lost friend Jessica Darling is back! I feel so lucky to have a peek into her middle school years in Megan McCafferty’s sparkly new series. How I’ve miss you so, Jessica Darling!”
–Jenny Han, New York Times bestselling author of the Summer series and Shug
“Jessica Darling won’t really tell you how to be popular; instead she’ll mock and subvert the entire middle-school popularity system while you laugh hysterically. Trust me, you’ll adore her ten different ways.”
— E. Lockhart, author of The Boyfriend List and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
“I first fell in love with Megan McCafferty’s irrepressible and hilarious Jessica Darling in Sloppy Firsts. I’m thrilled to turn back the clock and watch her navigate the highs and lows of seventh grade. I laughed and cheered for her and so will a new generation of readers.”
–Wendy Mass, author of The Candymakers
“If I had to do seventh grade all over again, there’s nobody I’d rather have by my side than Jessica Darling. Funny, winning, and completely relatable, she makes for delightful company as she navigates her way through a new school, and it’s impossible not to root for her through all her misadventures. I’m already excited to find out what the next chapter of her story might bring!”
–Jennifer E. Smith, author of This is What Happy Looks Like, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and The Storm Makers
The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Stressing, Obsessing & Second-Guessing
Crazy teachers; best friends turning pretty overnight; “The Unbreakable Laws of Cafeteria Line Cutting”…. Junior high is rough, and Jessica Darling needs help! Enter older sister Bethany and her “It List,” meant to help Jessica uphold “The Darling Domination of Popularity.”
Due to popular demand, ARCs of JESSICA DARLING’S IT LIST #1 will be distributed from booth 1829 only on 5/30 from 10-11AM and 5/31 from 9-9:30AM. (If you can’t make it during those times it can’t hurt to ask for IT, though.)
I’m thrilled to introduce JESSICA DARLING’S IT LIST: THE (TOTALLY NOT) GUARANTEED GUIDE TO POPULARITY, PRETTINESS & PERFECTION at BEA this year! Details:
1. I’m not walking the convention floor. However, JESSICA DARLING’S IT LIST will be featured in Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Booth #1829. I’m told that my publisher will distribute a limited number of ARCs per day throughout the convention SO GET THEM WHILE THEY LAST. And if you don’t see it, please ask for it!
2. I’m attending the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers cocktail party on Thursday, May 30th. Actually, they’re putting me and five other Little, Brown authors to work as bartenders. I’m serving a punch of my own creation called the Jessica Darling Clementine. The final IT LIST cover (NOT the trial covers currently on amazon.com or bn.com) will be revealed in the form of cute take-home coasters. I’m very excited about this because I love the final cover so very much.
3. I’m also going to the NYC Rooftop YA Author and Blogger Party hosted by Liza Weimer of WhoRuBlog. If you see me, talk to me! Why am I writing a middle grade novel? When did I decide to revisit Jessica Darling? Am I afraid of messing with the SLOPPY FIRSTS legacy? Ask and I will answer.
So that’s my schedule. I’m sorry that these events are invitation only and therefore limit my opportunities to connect with readers. Hopefully I’ll be back at BEA next year to talk about the second book in the IT LIST series…
As always, thanks for reading!
Megan
“A sparkling, imaginative romp that is nevertheless plenty provocative.” — Kirkus Reviews