Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Feb 28, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: penguin

Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

If you're looking for something genuinely funny, Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters will leave you thankful your life isn't as chaotic and impossibly disastrous as Kelsey's. Filled with laughs, rants and tears, this book will be the cherry on top of your syrupy sundae on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Prepare to journey through the horrors that is freshman year with Kelsey Finkelstein, who's as loveable as they come!

I never expected to love...more Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

If you're looking for something genuinely funny, Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters will leave you thankful your life isn't as chaotic and impossibly disastrous as Kelsey's. Filled with laughs, rants and tears, this book will be the cherry on top of your syrupy sundae on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Prepare to journey through the horrors that is freshman year with Kelsey Finkelstein, who's as loveable as they come!

I never expected to love this book so much. I was expecting a light read with endless crack but Zeitlin has written something truly spectacular. As well as characters who are developed and all have significant roles in the story, there's a realistic serving of heartbreak and anger to balance the moments of hilarity that will quite literally have you laughing out loud. Immediately you'll fall in love with Kelsey's narration and be flipping through the book as fast as you can to see how her year ends! Gripping and 100% entertaining, this could-happen-in-real-life tale will charm you with it's vivacity and endearingness.

Kelsey's relationships are the central focus of this novel. Zeitlin has honestly constructed an amazing cast of characters, creating detailed and intriguing story lines for them all. None of the tiffs between Kelsey and her best friends are petty. They have issues we can all easily relate to on a mature level and the hurt will really jab you in the heart. Who knew to expect such horrifying twists and betrayals? Gah! Not to sound like a broken record but the characters and plot are ACE. It's been a while since I've read a book with such well-developed secondary characters! Add in Kelsey's embarrassing family….I'm in love.

Now, how can we have a high school story without a tricky romance? Kelsey's in love with the gorgeous Jordan Rothman and plans to stake her claim on the soccer player this year since his bratty girlfriend's out of the equation. No one expected another complication to arise.... Throughout this book, Kelsey discovers that life at fourteen isn't perfect and you'll always have someone waiting in the wings to mess things up for you. (Tip: Avoid the mean troll on your soccer team.) But when Hot Newspaper Guy gets caught up in the "Embarrassing Photo Situation", reluctant sparks fly and we have ourselves a romance ;) Gosh, I won't spoil and tell you about every single sweet/funny situation in this book so I guess you'll just have to pick it up yourself!!

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters deals with realistic issues that have honest depth and meaning. You'll come out of reading this feeling different, perhaps a bit worn out (the poor heart!) or in the mood to run and give your best friends a hug! I guarantee you'll adore every character you're supposed to and wish you had a quirky Kelsey for yourself. Despite how alive the humour brought me, I can't get over Kelsey's determination to make it through Hell, dealing with the unfortunate complications of being a teenager and a girl looking for love! Promise me you'll pick this book up because you will not regret it!(less)

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Feb 02, 2012 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Kelsey you sweet, innocent, adorable girl. I have read a few books that star a girl entering high school and Kelsey is my favorite. This is such an important time in a girls life and I think it is a great place to start a series. The experiences that we have at that time in our lives truly helps to shape who we become as adults. I have read some books about teenagers that I don't feel are realistic; 14 year olds with unlimited amounts of money to spend, using language that is not quite right, pa...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Candace rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kelsey Finkelstein has stolen my heart away! Now this is the kind of character I love to read about. She's sarcastic, enthusiastic, and absolutely hilarious! I spent so much time laughing when reading this book and at one point it took me ten minutes to read 3 pages because I was laughing so hard. I love that feeling! And when I finished I was ready to pick it up and start it all over again and I very rarely feel that way even when I do love a book. Kelsey might overreact about some things but h...more Kelsey Finkelstein has stolen my heart away! Now this is the kind of character I love to read about. She's sarcastic, enthusiastic, and absolutely hilarious! I spent so much time laughing when reading this book and at one point it took me ten minutes to read 3 pages because I was laughing so hard. I love that feeling! And when I finished I was ready to pick it up and start it all over again and I very rarely feel that way even when I do love a book. Kelsey might overreact about some things but her ability to accept the inevitable is astounding. She ends up taking it in stride and I loved that about her. It seemed one thing after another happened to her and the embarrassing things she goes through has you thinking that she's just going to give up and walk away, but no way! That is definitely not her style. She follows through with everything she starts.

Now Kelsey is not only a fabulous character in her personality but she felt real to me. The things she thinks and does (as well as the other characters in the book) just feels real. We know that teens drink and there's some drinking involved but it's actually mostly responsible drinking. I mean, she's not all getting drunk and running around the city or doing stupid things. I was actually okay with how it played out, it all worked and felt right to me.

This book has a touch of romance and it's definitely very sweet but it's really only a touch and not much of anything until the end. I thought it was great because we actually have a chance for some real build up and never really know if things would ever go anywhere. The tension was unbelievable and perfect and although I wanted to see more it really was perfect.

This is a light hearted and fun book but it has real teen issues. These are things that normal everyday teens deal with. Friendship, romance, parties, school activities, family, it's all real stuff. No one's dying, no one has an eating disorder or is suicidal. But even though it has no big issues, these are Kelsey's issues and we see them as she sees them and they are still things she has to deal with. And I absolutely loved how this book went. How the author made things that may seem boring and mundane absolutely captivating. She blew me away and I am very eager for more from Meredith Zeitlin, this is one of the funnest (and funniest) books I've ever read! I very highly recommend you pick it up!

This review was first posted on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com (less)

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Jan 02, 2012 Genna Sarnak rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

I loved this hilarious and sweet book. I literally could not stop laughing out loud. Kelsey Finkelstein and her freshman year are a riot!

The book kind of reminded me of the The World of Alice: The Agony of Alice; Alice in Rapture, Sort Of; Reluctantly Alice; All but Alice books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Blog tour and full review to follow in a few months on the blog!

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Feb 05, 2013 Lulu rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review is honestly,and directly from soul.
i.Jus.Love.It.
If you think that thsi is not a good read,or you won't like it,or anything like that,you are TOTALLY WRONG.
It may contain spoilers
Kellsey is a girl .A normal one.Not popular,not very beautifull,not very intelligent.You know.She has her Bff's and her High-school monster.But when she hears that the monster won't came anymore at their High-school,she knows that this year is going to be the best .But is hard when yout mom buys you clothes...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Dulcy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-dac

Publisher: G. P. Puntam's Sons
Age: Young Adult
Species: Human (specifically teenage freshman girl)
Rating: 4.5/5
Interest: DAC/Requested Review/Cute Cover
Source: E-Galley from G. P. Puntam's Sons

First, I need to fan girl over that cover a little bit. Isn't it so cute? That has to be a total 100% Kelsey Finkelstein approved glamour shot. (Much better than a certain Reflector photographer could do.) The rain clouds tie in perfectly to Kelsey's rather stressful freshman year. I love that the mod...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Freshman year will be the start of something new for Kelsey Finklestein. She is determined to make her mark and get herself noticed. Try out for the school musical, grab a starting spot on the soccer team, nail down the cutest boy in her class, whatever it takes...Kelsey is going for it! Within just a few days into the new school year, Kelsey has gotten some attention, all right. Only, not in a good way! She is the target of a scary (and quite large) soccer team captain and gets a lot of neg pub...more Freshman year will be the start of something new for Kelsey Finklestein. She is determined to make her mark and get herself noticed. Try out for the school musical, grab a starting spot on the soccer team, nail down the cutest boy in her class, whatever it takes...Kelsey is going for it! Within just a few days into the new school year, Kelsey has gotten some attention, all right. Only, not in a good way! She is the target of a scary (and quite large) soccer team captain and gets a lot of neg publicity from the school newspaper. Why is her picture always plastered on the front page when she is looking her worst? She decides to take the bull by the horns and find out who keeps snapping bad photos of her. Just as soon as she tracks down The Crush and gets fitted with a fat suit and beard? Wait, what?

I must say, I really loved this story! At the time I read FRESHMAN YEAR, I was looking for a light and easy peasy read. Not every book needs to be packed with vital life lessons or tearful realizations about life. Sometimes, a classic tale of teen angst is on the menu. Kelsey's humor is right up my alley. She has a smart tongue and a sarcastic edge that I totally appreciate. Kelsey isn't whiny or have this continuous "poor me" attitude about all of her mishaps. She takes it all in stride and does her best to right any situation.

The relationship between Kelsey and her mother was the icing on the cake! I literally laughed out loud when those two but heads. They have a constant tug-of-war going on and neither one comes off looking dumb and degraded. Just hilarious dialogue between a mother that reads into everything, and a girl that just needs some space. I can totally relate. I was a teenager back in the black and white days and I have a 16-year-old now. I swear some of those scenes came from right here in my house.

When you're talking about girls in high school, you know there are boys in the picture. Kelsey has had the hots for the same boy since she came out of her mother's womb. Now that his too-perfect ex is out of the picture, Kelsey pounces on the opportunity. Like everything else in Kelsey's life, that doesn't exactly go according to plan. Friendships are more than tested and the claws come out. Kelsey has a pretty cool crew made up of three best friends. They all have very distinct personalities and voice. When The Crush comes in between the two friends, the other girls stay neutral. Each girl stays friends with opposing sides and refuses to pit people against one another. Well isn't that refreshing! Maybe there is a little lesson in this book afterall.

A perfect sarcasmatic book packed full of laughs and mishaps! Definite must read!(less)

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Jul 01, 2012 Olivia rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is in my V.I.B area(Very, Important,Book)! It's so funny and inspires me to write more. Meredith Zeitlin reminds me of Tina Fey. I can see this novel being a TV Show and winning an Emmy. Kelsey Finkelstein has the best friends anyone could ask for! Jojo with her different highlights and good sense of humor would be my favorite person. But Em is really sweet and nice too. I love all of them! A very good highschool experience that makes you laugh out loud in every chapter is in Freshman...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Catriona (LittleBookOwl) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, dac-2012, reviewed

Original review from Little Book Owl

In the mood for plenty of laughs? Keen to pick up a really entertaining book? Then Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters is PERFECT for you!

Meredith Zeitlin's debut novel for 2012 is a fun, entertaining read that keeps you simultaneously giggling and cringing throughout. There sure are plenty of disasters, alright, a continuous string of amusing situations that Kelsey finds herself in.

The pacing of the book was pretty good - a very easy, quick read. T...more

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Jan 25, 2012 The Cheap Reader rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-requests-netgalley, contemporary

Contemporary YA books can be fun to read even when you’re not a young adult anymore. The problem with many of those books is they’re hard to relate to. I’ve noticed a trend of books that focuses on the ‘wealthy’ kids. Most people don’t come from very well off families. Both of parents have to work. We don’t have credit cards. We have to shop at some less than desirable stores. You get the picture but that’s normal for many, many people.

Freshman Year emphasizes that point of normalcy and therefor...more Contemporary YA books can be fun to read even when you’re not a young adult anymore. The problem with many of those books is they’re hard to relate to. I’ve noticed a trend of books that focuses on the ‘wealthy’ kids. Most people don’t come from very well off families. Both of parents have to work. We don’t have credit cards. We have to shop at some less than desirable stores. You get the picture but that’s normal for many, many people.

Freshman Year emphasizes that point of normalcy and therefore Kelsey is very easy to relate to. Zeitlin makes Kelsey “every girl” without going the Twilight route and making her nondescript. In many respects, I knew exactly how Kelsey felt because I too had been there. Trying to figure out how to make your mark a few days before freshman year begins? Oh yeah, I definitely had that conversation with my friends. Mom buying you a hideous piece of clothing that she thinks is “cute”? Check. Acting like a bumbling idiot in front of your new classmates? Double check. If you aren’t able to identify with Kelsey just a little bit, you probably aren’t being honest with your self.

Kelsey is a fabulous protagonist. She keeps going and trying to make things better. No matter how much crap life dumped on her, she kept going because things have to get better eventually, right? I know I would have probably given up and turned into a hermit if all that happened to me.

Freshman Year is absolutely hilarious. It’s also one of those books that only hilarious because it’s not you living through the embarrassment. I can’t even tell you how many times I laughed while reading. The author was able to capture Kelsey’s voice perfectly. She absolutely sounded like a 14 year old girl. I know I had friends that sounded just like her. It really didn’t feel like an adult trying to speak like how she thinks a 14 year old would (or should) sound.

The bottom line? It’s a hilarious story and perfect for brightening your day. Highly recommended.
*Received from author in exchange for an honest review(less)

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Mar 05, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, i-own, read-in-2012

This book really brought me back to high school. No, I didn't grow up in NYC and I was not even as cool as Kelsey, but I felt her pain as so many of her freshman year plans are dashed. Right before freshman year begins, Kelsey and her friends get together to make a few plans. Kelsey wants to start her high school journey on the right foot by being more outgoing and going for what she wants.

First, Kelsey is hilarious. I highly enjoyed her internal commentary on her life. She was so enjoyable and...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Vy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-contemporary, 2012-debut-authors, e-arc, own-read-ebook

High school is tough, especially when you're a freshman.

This is also my freshman year, so Kelsey and I connected very well. But I'm still glad that I'm not in her shoes.

Making a mark was the one thing Kelsey planned to do, but she wasn't planning on how she was making her mark. Everyone always suggest for freshman to join a sport, club, theatre, etc... and of course everything sounds fantastic with meeting new people and trying new things. But sometimes trying new things really bite, especially...more High school is tough, especially when you're a freshman.

This is also my freshman year, so Kelsey and I connected very well. But I'm still glad that I'm not in her shoes.

Making a mark was the one thing Kelsey planned to do, but she wasn't planning on how she was making her mark. Everyone always suggest for freshman to join a sport, club, theatre, etc... and of course everything sounds fantastic with meeting new people and trying new things. But sometimes trying new things really bite, especially when Kelsey makes a bad impression with an upperclassmen on the field. And to top things off, someone on the school paper has been printing some pretty embarrassing photos with her in them. That's not even all of it since the drama continues to pile day after day in high school.

Kelsey is a likable character with her hilarious comments through out the story. She goes through the usual high school drama with crappy love interests, gossip, and backstabbing. Her life is one of the more interesting lives, but definitely one you're glad isn't yours. Kelsey does make up for it with her wittiness. She's always ready to say something, even if it's the most ridiculous thing anyone could possibly say.

She noticeably develops as the story goes on with her constant misfortunes. Kelsey becomes more aware and cautious to what she does and who she's friends with. Her friends are great supporting characters. The relationship Kelsey has with her friends is natural and adds onto her high school experience. She also has those typical adolescent moments with her parents that only made her more real. I felt as if I could walk to school and find Kelsey somewhere in the halls.

This books is full of hilarious moments. It was great looking at high school through the eyes of someone like Kelsey. I'm jealous of everyone who are looking back at their freshman year while I'm still living it. I guess I can't complain too much when comparing my life with Kelsey's. Freshman Year is a light read filled with ridiculous amounts of fun.(less)

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Mar 17, 2012 Bella (Cheezyfeet Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters was a really quick, really fun, and super cute read. When I read it, I'd just read a book about cancer, and then a book of some really strange short stories that I'm sure had some kind of meaning to them, and I wanted something that I could get lost in for a day and not have to think about too much. And that's exactly what I got.

Right from the very first chapter, I could tell it was going to be funny. Some of the things that happen to Kelsey are so...more Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters was a really quick, really fun, and super cute read. When I read it, I'd just read a book about cancer, and then a book of some really strange short stories that I'm sure had some kind of meaning to them, and I wanted something that I could get lost in for a day and not have to think about too much. And that's exactly what I got.

Right from the very first chapter, I could tell it was going to be funny. Some of the things that happen to Kelsey are so ridiculous, and so unrealistic, yet I couldn't help but giggle every couple of pages. I don't think anyone's freshman year would be as bad as hers (I'm in the middle of mine right now and mine's nowhere near, fortunately) but that didn't stop me from imagining everything that happened to her happening to some of the girls in my school. It didn't matter to me that all these scenarios took place in an American high school, which is such a different place to an English secondary school, because it was written in such a way that it was easy to imagine, and so easy to relate to! Awesome :)

I really liked Kelsey. A lot of what she did made me cringe, and maybe some of it was really stupid, but I loved her for her flaws. She was just beginning to grow up, and I forgive her for wanting to try out new things, and I completely understood almost everything that went through her head. I could relate to her, and while perhaps I thought she was trying to act older than she was, she was very mature (sometimes (well, a whole lot more mature than me, anyway ;P )) and I felt she dealt with the bad things very well.

The plot was simple, yet fun and exciting. It really was just like if we were following Kelsey around her school during freshman year with a camera, recording every detail. We saw Kelsey make mistakes, and learn from them, and just as any teenager in high school, we went through all her friendship issues, boy troubles and the general difficulties that come with being a teenager as if we were living them right there with her.

Overall, I thought Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters was a great debut. I'd definitely recommend to fans of YA contemporary, as it's just one of those short, delightfully fun and wonderfully silly books that are just so awesome to read for a few hours on a cold and rainy, February day. I'll definitely be looking out for anything else that Meredith Zeitlin writes in the future!(less)

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May 22, 2013 Sarah (YA Love) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, contemporary-ya, march-2012-release, 2012-debut-author-challenge, read-in-2012, young-adult-lit, favorites

**Update--I read this again as a read aloud with my YA Lit class. I enjoyed reading it again, but I'm not sure if the class liked it as much as other classes have.**

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

I teach mostly freshmen every year, so when Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters was pitched to me I knew it would be a good fit. I saw the book trailer before I read the book, and after watching it I knew I needed to read Meredith Zeitlin’s debut right away. Kelsey Finkelstein is melodra...more **Update--I read this again as a read aloud with my YA Lit class. I enjoyed reading it again, but I'm not sure if the class liked it as much as other classes have.**

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

I teach mostly freshmen every year, so when Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters was pitched to me I knew it would be a good fit. I saw the book trailer before I read the book, and after watching it I knew I needed to read Meredith Zeitlin’s debut right away. Kelsey Finkelstein is melodramatic, and I loved it! I couldn’t get enough of Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters; I started it and finished it in one day.

Kelsey Finkelstein is now one of my favorite snarky characters. Like I said, she’s incredibly melodramatic. Like many of the girls in my freshmen classes, and very much like I was at fourteen, Kelsey makes seemingly insignificant things into a big deal. One example of this is how upset she gets over the mysterious photographer that keeps including less than flattering pictures of her in the school newspaper. I enjoyed her reactions to these pictures because most of them aren’t even actually of Kelsey, but she’s usually in the background. Of course Kelsey’s mortified and her friends won’t let her live the pictures down. I know I’d feel the exact same way, especially about the picture where she looks like a cafeteria worker. I really liked everything about Kelsey. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but she still faces consequences in one fashion or another. Even the way she describes things is enjoyable. Kelsey has a little sister named Travis who she finds incredibly annoying. Nine pages in we meet Travis and Cassidy, one of Kelsey’s best friends, is cooing over Travis’s pajamas. “‘You look so adorable! What a Twizzler?’ Oh, lord. My sister is like a spaniel–once you feed her, she’ll never leave.” I had already laughed a couple of times before this page, but this Kelsey quote made me snort. The snorting and laughing continued through the entire book.

Meredith Zeitlin did a really nice job including realistic issues that not only teens face, but freshmen face as well. In the beginning of Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters, the girls are discussing how they’re going to start their freshman year and make it the best year ever. They’re really focused on having a good high school experience. I’ve been working with freshmen for five years, so I know many of them have the same thoughts and feelings as Kelsey and her friends. I see it in their faces on the first day of school. I hear it in the halls. (My classroom doesn’t have a number next to the door, so I’m always reeling lost and frantic freshmen into my room on the first day of school. Getting lost is one of the girls’ concerns.) I’ve touched on some of the insecurities in regards to Kelsey and the random photos. Kelsey and her friends worry about their appearance, losing their friends, boys, etc. There are fights and the threat of losing a best friend, feeling disgusting and smelly while wearing protective sports padding, and the worry associated with being a bad kisser.

I’m positive that I’ll be able to hand this to most of the freshmen in my class without complaint because Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters appeals to so many readers. My sports fans will enjoy reading about Kelsey’s soccer experiences. My drama fans will love how everything goes down in the school’s version of Fiddler on the Roof, including a beard that looks like a “skinned rodent” and all. My readers looking for romance will enjoy Kelsey’s highs and lows in the romance department. And if any of my students want to read something funny, I’ll instantly think of this debut. I’m actually really considering Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters as a read aloud at some point.

I couldn’t get enough of Meredith Zeitlin’s fabulous debut, and I look forward to reading more of her work. Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters is a must read.

Similar Reads: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (Frankie is another favorite snarky character) / Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Sophie and Kelsey have similar personalities, even though Sophie’s a witch)(less)

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Feb 26, 2012 Meredith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, great-female-characters, my-favorite-books

I had been looking forward to this one for a while. (debut author named Meredith, cute contemp- score!) And I was sick the other day and got around to reading this one (thank you Putnam for sending it!) I was in the mood for something fluffy and picked this one up expecting a cute contemporary. And oh my goodness- it exceeded my expectations. I was drawn in from page one (I love it when that happens!) and loved it so much I stayed up wee into the hours finishing it. Kelsey's humor and awesomene...more I had been looking forward to this one for a while. (debut author named Meredith, cute contemp- score!) And I was sick the other day and got around to reading this one (thank you Putnam for sending it!) I was in the mood for something fluffy and picked this one up expecting a cute contemporary. And oh my goodness- it exceeded my expectations. I was drawn in from page one (I love it when that happens!) and loved it so much I stayed up wee into the hours finishing it. Kelsey's humor and awesomeness, the hilarious plot line, the other character (Kelsey's family and friends), the New York setting that made me envious: it all tugged me further and further, deeper into this book.

Kelsey made this book. She is one of (if not the) best teenage girl characters I've read all year. She was so sarcastic, hilarious, adorable, solid and such a realistic character. She could have been annoying, but I think Meredith Zeitlin wrote her perfectly! Without Kelsey, this book would have been ok, but Kelsey completely makes it! Kelsey's friends are great characters as well, and I couldn't help but compare myself to them. (I think I'm a mix between Kelsey and Em) My one thing with them- I got them the tinsiest bit confused the first couple chapters. Although, that's probably just me. ;)

The Finklestein's were also hilarious. Kelsey's younger sister really reminded me of my younger sister and her parents cracked me up. Especially Kelsey's relationship with her mom. Kelsey referring to her mother as "born in 1901" and "back when mom was a kid, 397 years ago," made me laugh every time. The humor in this book was brilliant and realistic. The whole theatre situation was so funny I had to put the book down for a moment because I was laughing so hard.

The New York setting definitely made me envious and also reminded me a lot of my mom. (who grew up in Brooklyn and went to school in Manhattan just like Kelsey) Kelsey kept going places and I would always be like "how is she getting there alone? She can't drive" and then I would remember the subway! I mean, usually I enjoy light, fluffy reads, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters. Something that I think really sets this apart from other books- the unnatural disasters. They were like these little themes and stories within a main plot and overall theme, which really keeps the reader interested and entertained throughout the whole book. There is not a single dull moment which is something that teens seem to love!

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin is a great book for anyone looking for a fun read. You will fall in love with Kelsey Finklestein and the hilarious disasters known as her life. And I look forward to more of the impressive, Meredith Zeitlin! (who happens to have the best first name on this planet) To learn more about Kelsey Finklestein or Meredith Zietlin, and see the book trailer, go to kelseyfinklestein.com.
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Jan 05, 2013 Jasmine Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-reads, favorites

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters turned out to be a complete win.

I wasn’t really sure how I’d feel about it since contemporaries featuring younger main characters can be a little too silly for me, but this one wasn’tlike that at all. In fact, it completely reminded me of what I was like at that age. I won’t go so far as to say it reminded me of my freshman year since nothing very exciting ever happened to me, but it was certainly fun to read about.

I loved that Kelsey was so real. She...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin is a great comedy about the hijinks of the freshman year, when it seems there are endless possibilities to reinvent yourself only to discover it's not nearly as easy as one thinks.

Synopsis: Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school co...more Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin is a great comedy about the hijinks of the freshman year, when it seems there are endless possibilities to reinvent yourself only to discover it's not nearly as easy as one thinks.

Synopsis: Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it. (Goodreads.com)

Let me just say it plain and simple: this book is funny! If you have a soft spot for the humor in Brent Crawford's Carter Finally Gets It, well then hop on board the Kelsey Finkelstein train! She wants her freshman year to a success on every level and she'll do anything she can to make it happen. Unfortunately, that leads to some situations that prove funny to the reader but are definitely not Kelsey's ideal freshman experience. That being said, I really liked how Kelsey was open to so many experiences. She truly didn't let anything hold her back, even when the situations showed her in not the best of moments. But that didn't stop her from trying soccer, theater, heck, even the newspaper!

I totally admit to having a rather juvenile sense of humor so this book totally worked for me in that respect. There is a scene involving a beard during theater that had me cracking up nonstop. It was absolutely hilarious and told in a very personable, droll fashion. That describes Kelsey's voice somewhat. She has all these grand ideas that she pursues with enthusiasm and they don't always work out but somehow she takes it in stride, chalking it up to another experience.

I also liked that Kelsey and her friends didn't totally lose touch with each other during the course of the book. That's not to say it was all sunshine and roses because it wasn't but it was nice to see this core group of friends still having something in common and not totally going their separate ways even as they made new friends and became a bit more independent of each other.

This is a very lighthearted book but that being said, there are scenes of drinking and a lot of talk of sex. I'd like to be able to say you could sell this to an seventh or eighth grader but the scene where Kelsey pukes because of alcohol will not be for every reader. It's a definite case of having to know your reader. The cute cover is going to grab many readers though and hopefully they'll learn a positive lesson from Kelsey's experience which is I'm sure what the author was hoping for. You can also sell this on the sweet romance which is not a focus of the story but is definitely there. Kelsey crushes on a photographer gone awry which leads to even more humor in this story.

Kelsey is a great character to spend time with. Zeitlin has a really great sense of humor and it appears in the book. Additionally, Kelsey is close to her family, for all her histrionics about how her mom fails to appreciate her and invades her privacy, etc. Her parents have an active role in her life and that shows throughout the course of the story.

If you read and liked Brent Crawford's Carter books or Don Calame's Swim the Fly, I truly think Meredith Zeitlin is the female equivalent to those stories. Kelsey has quite the freshman year of high school filled with mistakes, excitement, surprises, and growth. I'd love to see another adventure from Kelsey. I know I would devour it and I think this book is going to have great appeal for younger teen readers. Meredith Zeitlin, you've come into the YA world with a bang.(less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012debut, challenge-ccc2012, challenge-dac2012, released-wishlist

REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/2012/...

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin WAS. SO. MUCH. FUN. Guys, I swear, Meredith Zeitlin took myself and every 14 year old girl I knew and put us in Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters. Minus the growing up in NYC part because I was not cool enough for that.

Not that any 14 year old girls were really cool, HAH. Because that transition from terrible middle school to awkward first year of high sc...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Heather (BookStacksOnDeck) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, favorites, sts, hardcopy

I absolutely loved this! Kelsey is about to start high school as a freshman and she's hoping to stand out and make it her year. She has big hopes on getting a good position on the school's soccer team and maybe going for that guy she's been crushing on forever. Of course, things don't always go as planned, but especially not in Kelsey's case... a lot of the time.

Kelsey and her three best friends - Em, JoJo, and Cass - are hilarious! I loved the banter between them all and Kelsey's train of thou...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Ashley - Book Labyrinth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, from-author, ebook, dac-2012

Omiword this book is funny. So, so funny. Like, it would be impossible to overestimate how many times this book made me giggle. As in when I was talking to my Mom I read some paragraphs aloud because they made me snicker so much, and when I was reading it during lunch at work I thought people would give me weird looks because I was literally laughing out loud. Kelsey is just so sarcastic and true to life. She's an adorable narrator who just seems like a real girl in grade nine, wanting to be mat...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Julianna Helms added it

Shelves: 2012-debut-ya-author-challenge, own-arc, dnf, e-stuff

I might pick this book up again later, but right now, it's agitating me too much. Kelsey's just too... shallow, meretricious of a character for me to relate to. Her problems are just... nothing compared to many, many other people's. And though I do like her voice, she just talks too much like a five-year-old for me to truly understand. (Did I mention that all she has on her mind are boys, friends, an annoying archenemy--who I don't even know the motivation nor story behind--impossible parents, a...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

3.5-4ish? Like this WAY more than I thought I would (since I usually tend to hate all 14-year-old first person narrators) and I found it to be pretty funny/realistic.

full review: http://www.foreveryoungadult.com/2012...

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Feb 21, 2013 Analyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars

A.) I think this was written for people who enjoy adventure, but in a
different way. Someone who enjoys soul-searching and thrilling events.

B.) I gave this book four stars.

C.) This book had reminded me a lot about Freshman year. Liking someone, constantly texting, heartbreaks, betrayals, and many more similarities. So in my opinion, I do agree with what happened. I think the writer should clarify some of the story though since it sorta suddenly ended..Some of my friends play for the same team and...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Raissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: have-read, absolutely-amazing

This book is certainly hilarious, relatable, cute and very interesting. Reading this book made me understand more about the unnatural occurrences that I encounter In school. I loved the parts wherein Julie Nelson kept on insulting and threatening Kelsey, it was just so thrilling in my perspective. I also liked it when Kelsey had a crush on Jordan Rothman yet her own best friend, Cassidy betrayed her and kissed and started to date Jordan. Then Kelsey started to take revenge on Cassidy. I liked it...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, for-review, teen-ya, tween

At First Sight: Fourteen year-old Kelsey is starting high school with every hope that this year will be her year.

High school just has to be awesome: she has her three best friends - Emma, Jo-Jo and Cassidy - by her side and her nemesis and soccer rival just moved to Arizona.

But soon, things get derailed: there is too much homework, there is a girl out to get Kelsey and she isn't sure what's going on with her friends.

Also, her crush might not be all she wants him to be. And new and old friends...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 4 of 5 stars

I ate this great little read up in one sitting. It was fun, fresh, and although slightly boy obsessed, 100% about four girls learning to love themselves and each other at the point in their lives where that's the hardest thing to do.

This is where I segue into remembering having the exact same aspirations as Kelsey when I was 14 and about to embark on my high school adventure. I vividly remember how full of promise it all seemed, and like Kelsey, being totally disappointed by my decided lack of s...more I ate this great little read up in one sitting. It was fun, fresh, and although slightly boy obsessed, 100% about four girls learning to love themselves and each other at the point in their lives where that's the hardest thing to do.

This is where I segue into remembering having the exact same aspirations as Kelsey when I was 14 and about to embark on my high school adventure. I vividly remember how full of promise it all seemed, and like Kelsey, being totally disappointed by my decided lack of success off the bat. I did not meet an adorable boy who thought I was awesome, but I did have a great group of friends who helped me get through most of the embarrassment, and lack of romance.

What I loved the most about this story, besides its spunk, was how empowering it was. Kelsey makes mistakes, has embarrassing moments, fights with her besties, but she also discovers that she likes who she is- even without that magical high school transformation. Which, ironically, is the high school transformation we should all have been lucky enough to have. It left me in such a feel good place, I wanted to dance around and smile a lot.

But to backtrack for a minute, this book has a great spunky vibe. Kelsey is a bit of tornado, storming through high school on a single minded mission to achieve a level of high school legitimacy that always seems to evade her. But the comedy it stirs up is so enjoyable. Disastrous kissing sessions "Look, I don't think you're doing this right", musical auditions "I come in for my first note, but for some reason the guy's playing it, like, an entire octave up from where it belongs. I stick to the way I practiced it- nice and low.", and prom dates "Seriously? We've been here for fifteen minutes and my date has already been kicked out and possibly arrested? This is very bad. Am I in trouble by association? I've never even tried pot!", I was giggling all the way through.

Like Kristen Schaal (yah that's right, Mel from Flight of the Concords gave this book a quote, I told you it was good), I think I could have seriously used this book the summer before grade 9 to take the edge off. I wish I knew someone that age to pass my copy off to, but that would mean I wouldn't be able to read it again for a pick me up, so maybe it's for the best. However, I seriously recommend you share it with those in need- either of some high school advice or a good laugh.

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters comes out today, make sure to grab a copy, it's too much fun to pass up.
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May 09, 2012 Kelley Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: Freshmen Year and Other Unnatural Disasters
Author: Meredith Zeitlin
Publication Date: March 2012
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Source: Given free copy in exchange for honest review

Genre: Coming of age/dream to reborn into awesomeness during a summer break/ slightly romantic filled with angst contemporary, younger set YA Did I say enough here? Sheesh…

Cover: Cutesy, fitting, and I watched the book trailer, which you can find below, that really fits the book well. The cover shows the younger,...more Title: Freshmen Year and Other Unnatural Disasters
Author: Meredith Zeitlin
Publication Date: March 2012
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Source: Given free copy in exchange for honest review

Genre: Coming of age/dream to reborn into awesomeness during a summer break/ slightly romantic filled with angst contemporary, younger set YA Did I say enough here? Sheesh…

Cover: Cutesy, fitting, and I watched the book trailer, which you can find below, that really fits the book well. The cover shows the younger, socially-stressed but always entertaining life of a teeny-bopper, as my mother would say.

Plot: Cute. Did I say cute? Makes you feel young (13-14 years old) again BUT with the addition of alcohol and hooking up. (Aka this is my warning for any moms out there. It’s there, written in as part of life, but isn’t the focus) Flows well. Follows Kelsey Finklestein basically for an entire school year. It may seem predictable at times, but it reads like a good movie for the younger angsty set.

Romantic Element: It’s there. It’s fairly satisfying, but it’s not the focus. In fact, you don’t think you’re totally getting one as Kelsey tries on different crushes, dates, etc., but again, it’s there, and it’s cute. (Sorry for the redundancy, but if it fits, it fits…)

Overall: This book does everything I’d want a comedy/coming of age/big dreams for a little school year book to have. Kelsey is likeable, and her friends are multi-faceted. She can be vain, but a lot of being that involves that, doesn’t it? The book also has a family element, which I think people will appreciate, even if it is, too, angsty in the way only a younger teen’s family life can be. Basically, if you want to channel your inner, newly teenaged self, OR, if you want to give a rambunctious niece (who you’ve warned about drinking and/or hooking up) this is the book for you.

Note: there was one joke that I wasn’t too fond of, but it could just be me being sensitive, but it doesn’t detract from the book, so have at it!

Also Note: Isn't the title some kind of adorable?
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Apr 28, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullies, families, ncbla2013, romance, school

The start of freshman year has Kelsey Finkelstein ready to change her image and to get noticed. She's certain that this is the year her long-term crush Jordan Rothman will nice her. With help from her three best friends, this could be the year they take the world--or at least their Brooklyn high school--by storm. But as we know, the best laid plans of men and fourteen-year-olds often don't work out as they hoped. Inexplicably she angers an upperclassman on the soccer team, who seems determined t...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut-author-challenge

Originally posted at Beneath the Jacket:

This book is so freaking cute! I hope Meredith doesn't take offense to that because it's not an insult, it's a big compliment. With all the paranormal/supernatural/heavy YA books I've been reading, it's a nice change to read about a regular old fourteen-year-old girl doing fourteen-year-old things and making the mistakes of a fourteen-year-old. Kelsey and her friends are very believable characters right off the bat. While reading, I remembered myself hangi...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Melanie Goodman added it

It is Kelsey’s freshman year and she is ready to start over and stand out. Her goals for the year include:

* Not being embarrassed by her parents, who are positively annoying and frequently frustrated by her “Typical Adolescent Behavior”
* Finally going out with Mr. Hottie McHoterson, Jordan Rothman, who she has been crushing on forever and ever
* Becoming a soccer star now that her arch-nemesis, Jemma, has moved to Arizona
* Hanging out with her bffs Em, Cassidy, and JoJo

Naturally, things don’t...more

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