How to Ruin a Summer Vacation

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation
By Simon Elkeles
Flux, 2006. 234 pgs. Young Adult

Amy Nelson's father, who she refers to as Sperm Donor, since he hasn't exactly been a big part of her life, drags her to Israel for the summer because her grandmother--whom she's never met and who doesn't even know Amy exists--is ill. Amy doesn't want to go, and when she gets there, she and her cousin Osnat (Snotty) don't exactly hit it off, and one of Snotty's friends, sexy Avi, thinks Amy's a spoiled American. Amy sets out to prove Avi wrong.

On the one hand, there were some funny aspects of this book. On the other hand, I think Amy is a spoiled American, and there were definitely times that it was hard for me to care about her. I thought there were some interesting insights into life in Israel, but there were also some topics that were completely glossed over and probably should have been left out of the story if they weren't going to be more developed. I don't think I'll bother with the rest of the series.

AE