All for the Love of That Boy »

A new school year is filled with challenging changes. On the good side, Linda's ex-boyfriend, Lenny, wants to get back together. On the bad side, all her friends are having a ...

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-- Linda's parents refer to her boyfriend, Lenny, as ``that boy'' in the first title, a competently written sequel to My Heart Belongs to That Boy (Archway, 1989) . Lenny's street-wise behavior conflicts constantly with Linda's school-oriented interests in this often amusing story of the trials and tribulations of teen-age love. Most of the story's characters are well drawn, and the multi-ethnicity of the Washington Heights section of New York City stresses the universality of teen-age feelings of rejection and acceptance, of adolescent behavior and the courage to stand up against mismanaged adult control. The second book is a sensible presentation of the realities of life for teens caring about someone despite his or her faults. Decisions about the future are developed consistently and credibly within the plot; although Linda and Lenny are true city kids, readers everywhere should be able to identify with them. Their lives are not straightforward and fairy-tale perfect, but are fraught with believable difficulties and satisfying resolutions. --Alice Cronin, Mountainside Public Library, NJ