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Making Out #24
Now Zoey's Alone
Now Zoey's alone. At least, that's how it feels to Zoey. With Lucas and Nina behaving so strangely, how can she help but be suspicious? Maybe Lara's the one Zoey should turn to for the truth. Or maybe not.
217 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 1997
1 person is currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Applegate
277 books6,211 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate has written many books for young readers, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 11, 2018
After a few lousy instalments, this book was definitely an improvement. I almost cried when Aisha was listening to the tape; and Benjamin's show down with Sean had the tips of my fingers tingling!
The bit that really got me was Zoey finding out about Lucas and Nina 😢 You really understand the saying 'when the ball drops' when she started piecing everything together, I felt it in my chest! Must be heart breaking finding out the two people your closest too are snakes 🐍 especially when she trusted them so much!
On another note, ever since the book where everyone graduated it's felt like a completely different series! There was definitely a shift where it went from teen drama to soap opera. The gang doesn't really feel like "the gang" anymore... They hardly ever see each other. I doubt that's going to change in the last four books but I hope I won't need to skim read again.
The bit that really got me was Zoey finding out about Lucas and Nina 😢 You really understand the saying 'when the ball drops' when she started piecing everything together, I felt it in my chest! Must be heart breaking finding out the two people your closest too are snakes 🐍 especially when she trusted them so much!
On another note, ever since the book where everyone graduated it's felt like a completely different series! There was definitely a shift where it went from teen drama to soap opera. The gang doesn't really feel like "the gang" anymore... They hardly ever see each other. I doubt that's going to change in the last four books but I hope I won't need to skim read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2015
This is the instalment where most of the gang go off to college. It's nice to read books where time and life progress in a somewhat realistic way, and there's no-one stuck in junior year of high school for decades or becoming halted at 8th grade with babysitting their only money-making option.
In the previous book Lara found out about Lucas and Nina's occasional kisses. In this book she's using this knowledge to blackmail them into being nice to her which is the most pathetic blackmail in the history of literature. Lucas and Nina can't keep up with her demands of civility however, and Lara tells Zoey late one night. Zoey responds to this by storming into her parents's bedroom and demanding they put her on a plane to California immediately. Instead of telling her to go to back to bed and calm down, they comply. So Zoey leaves Chatham Island in a whirlwind of drama and entitlement without saying goodbye to any of her friends.
Kate also leaves, to go back to New York with her mum. Not a single care was given.
Aisha and Christopher get back together after she listens to a tape he made for her about his teen-marriage to a heroin addict. Coincidentally she receives a call around the same time offering her a scholarship to Harvard (?!?!) so she decides to go there rather than Princeton to be closer to Christopher. If there's anyone else out there who's ditched Princeton for Harvard to be closer to their cheating, lying, rageaholic douchebag fiance, I want to hear from you.
Claire figures out who her stalker is, just in time to whack him in the head with a hammer before he stabs Benjamin. I don't know if Aaron and Claire are still together, I hope they clear this up soon.
So now Zoey is at Berkeley, Aisha and Aaron are at Harvard, Jake is at UMass (I think), Benjamin at Columbia (fun!) and Claire at MIT. Left on the island there's Lara waitressing and artisting, Nina's at high school and working in the school office, Christopher is doing who knows what (in the first book he was planning on going to college at this point but I guess he blew all his money on Aisha's ring or his army uniform or a trundle bed for Kendra) and Lucas is on lobster detail.
So I'm excited to read the rest of the series. I haven't read the later ones as often as the earlier ones. I'll tell you a spoiler. Someone dies in the next book. I won't say who, but the book is called Don't forget Lara. Shhh.
In the previous book Lara found out about Lucas and Nina's occasional kisses. In this book she's using this knowledge to blackmail them into being nice to her which is the most pathetic blackmail in the history of literature. Lucas and Nina can't keep up with her demands of civility however, and Lara tells Zoey late one night. Zoey responds to this by storming into her parents's bedroom and demanding they put her on a plane to California immediately. Instead of telling her to go to back to bed and calm down, they comply. So Zoey leaves Chatham Island in a whirlwind of drama and entitlement without saying goodbye to any of her friends.
Kate also leaves, to go back to New York with her mum. Not a single care was given.
Aisha and Christopher get back together after she listens to a tape he made for her about his teen-marriage to a heroin addict. Coincidentally she receives a call around the same time offering her a scholarship to Harvard (?!?!) so she decides to go there rather than Princeton to be closer to Christopher. If there's anyone else out there who's ditched Princeton for Harvard to be closer to their cheating, lying, rageaholic douchebag fiance, I want to hear from you.
Claire figures out who her stalker is, just in time to whack him in the head with a hammer before he stabs Benjamin. I don't know if Aaron and Claire are still together, I hope they clear this up soon.
So now Zoey is at Berkeley, Aisha and Aaron are at Harvard, Jake is at UMass (I think), Benjamin at Columbia (fun!) and Claire at MIT. Left on the island there's Lara waitressing and artisting, Nina's at high school and working in the school office, Christopher is doing who knows what (in the first book he was planning on going to college at this point but I guess he blew all his money on Aisha's ring or his army uniform or a trundle bed for Kendra) and Lucas is on lobster detail.
So I'm excited to read the rest of the series. I haven't read the later ones as often as the earlier ones. I'll tell you a spoiler. Someone dies in the next book. I won't say who, but the book is called Don't forget Lara. Shhh.
June 3, 2019
Now Zoey's Alone was a book that had me hooked from the first page to the last. There's more suspense in this one than in others in the series, with Claire being intent on hunting down her stalker. These scenes were done realistically and the atmosphere was drawn out through the book (but in a good way)- this was a good subplot to add something different to the book.
Nina and Lucas also made things complicated for Zoey. Lara is just as manipulative as ever and I was genuinely worried for Benjamin who experiences some visual disturbances at different points in the book.
Aisha, Christopher and Kendra. This was a storyline that I thought was not as tense as it should have been but Aisha listening to the tape during the triathlon was realistic and woven in well.
Jake and Kate- I feel like I was wanting a deeper look into Kate's situation but Jake was supportive towards her. I wished she were more grateful though
The ending felt a little rushed and very formal to me because of the way they all said "good-bye" (didn't like this spelling) and not "goodbye" or take time over it or seem more emotional. I think a good touch would have been to have had a farewell gathering or party since they are all on the same island and have known each other so long.
All the friends except Nina and Lucas get ready to go off to University. and I thought the build up could have been better. I also felt that Aisha's decision to go to Harvard and not Princeton to be closer to Christopher was quite rushed also, I thought she would have hesitated a little, really trying to figure out what she wanted to do.
Despite this, another enjoyable book in the Making Out series.
Nina and Lucas also made things complicated for Zoey. Lara is just as manipulative as ever and I was genuinely worried for Benjamin who experiences some visual disturbances at different points in the book.
Aisha, Christopher and Kendra. This was a storyline that I thought was not as tense as it should have been but Aisha listening to the tape during the triathlon was realistic and woven in well.
Jake and Kate- I feel like I was wanting a deeper look into Kate's situation but Jake was supportive towards her. I wished she were more grateful though
The ending felt a little rushed and very formal to me because of the way they all said "good-bye" (didn't like this spelling) and not "goodbye" or take time over it or seem more emotional. I think a good touch would have been to have had a farewell gathering or party since they are all on the same island and have known each other so long.
All the friends except Nina and Lucas get ready to go off to University. and I thought the build up could have been better. I also felt that Aisha's decision to go to Harvard and not Princeton to be closer to Christopher was quite rushed also, I thought she would have hesitated a little, really trying to figure out what she wanted to do.
Despite this, another enjoyable book in the Making Out series.
June 20, 2019
This is one of my absolute favorite books of the series. The conclusion to the Claire stalker situation is the best. I still remember reading those scenes for the first time during lunch in 10th grade with a male friend reading along with me, and him freaking out over all the suspense of this part.
This was also the book where they all leave for college. I particularly loved the scenes of Claire and Nina saying goodbye and Benjamin and Nina. I might give this 5 stars if it weren't for some lameness. Aisha, as usual. The Harvard storyline and just everything about her. And Kate. I really want to like her and be sympathetic to her struggle with depression, but she is just portrayed so badly and pathetically that I just can't. She was such a promising character, and this could have been a really good storyline.
This was also the book where they all leave for college. I particularly loved the scenes of Claire and Nina saying goodbye and Benjamin and Nina. I might give this 5 stars if it weren't for some lameness. Aisha, as usual. The Harvard storyline and just everything about her. And Kate. I really want to like her and be sympathetic to her struggle with depression, but she is just portrayed so badly and pathetically that I just can't. She was such a promising character, and this could have been a really good storyline.
May 13, 2023
Well Zoey's alone, but that didn't happen until right at the end of the book! We spent the whole book just waiting for Lara to spill the beans 🙈 and waiting for Claire to realise that her stalker was Sean!
* So, Kate's mother turns up on the doorstep and actually seems to be being nice to Kate, so Kate agrees to return to New York with her mother. Jake is sad to see her go, but also a little relieved.
* Claire continues to worry about her stalker, and begins carrying a hammer around in her bag just in case. She keeps getting notes and things that freak her out. She sees Sean in Passmore's but doesn't 100% recognise him because he's lost so much weight. One night Benjamin and Claire go in different directions towards home, when Claire realises who Sean is, and races back to Benjamin's house. Sean attacks Benjamin with a knife and is going to finish the job when Claire hits Sean on the head with her hammer. Benjamin is okay, Sean is stable, and Claire can finally sleep.
* Aisha signs up for a triathlon in which she comes 4th and wins a ham which she gives to her parents. Christopher makes a tape of him explaining about Carina and asks Kendra to give it to Aisha. Aisha receives a phone call from Harvard offering her a scholarship. Accidentally Aisha is given the tape and ends up listening to it whilst running her race. When the race is finished she jumps in Christopher's arms, and the engagement is back on.
* Lara blackmails Lucas and Nina into being nice to her because she saw them kiss. They are nice to her which annoys Zoey. Zoey's father than tells Lara that she can move into Zoey's room which really annoys Zoey. Lucas tells Nina that they are going to have to tell Zoey the truth before she goes to college. In a brief moment of truce between Lara and Zoey, Lara tells Zoey that Lucas and Nina have been making out behind her back since she went to Washington, which was quite a stretch of the truth (2 kisses). Zoey tells her parents she wants to go to California immediately, and they have to take her to the airport.
* Everyone gathers near the ferry the next morning for Jake, Claire, Benjamin, and Aisha to set off for college! Everyone realises that Zoey is missing, but only Lucas, Nina, and Benjamin know why.
* So, Kate's mother turns up on the doorstep and actually seems to be being nice to Kate, so Kate agrees to return to New York with her mother. Jake is sad to see her go, but also a little relieved.
* Claire continues to worry about her stalker, and begins carrying a hammer around in her bag just in case. She keeps getting notes and things that freak her out. She sees Sean in Passmore's but doesn't 100% recognise him because he's lost so much weight. One night Benjamin and Claire go in different directions towards home, when Claire realises who Sean is, and races back to Benjamin's house. Sean attacks Benjamin with a knife and is going to finish the job when Claire hits Sean on the head with her hammer. Benjamin is okay, Sean is stable, and Claire can finally sleep.
* Aisha signs up for a triathlon in which she comes 4th and wins a ham which she gives to her parents. Christopher makes a tape of him explaining about Carina and asks Kendra to give it to Aisha. Aisha receives a phone call from Harvard offering her a scholarship. Accidentally Aisha is given the tape and ends up listening to it whilst running her race. When the race is finished she jumps in Christopher's arms, and the engagement is back on.
* Lara blackmails Lucas and Nina into being nice to her because she saw them kiss. They are nice to her which annoys Zoey. Zoey's father than tells Lara that she can move into Zoey's room which really annoys Zoey. Lucas tells Nina that they are going to have to tell Zoey the truth before she goes to college. In a brief moment of truce between Lara and Zoey, Lara tells Zoey that Lucas and Nina have been making out behind her back since she went to Washington, which was quite a stretch of the truth (2 kisses). Zoey tells her parents she wants to go to California immediately, and they have to take her to the airport.
* Everyone gathers near the ferry the next morning for Jake, Claire, Benjamin, and Aisha to set off for college! Everyone realises that Zoey is missing, but only Lucas, Nina, and Benjamin know why.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2021
Einer meiner Lieblingsbände bisher:
– Claire haut ihren Stalker mit einem Hammer nieder. Beste!
– Aisha ist eine Sportskanone, kriegt ein Harvard-Stipendium & ein süßes Happy End
– Benjamin macht ein Foto von einem schönen Moment zwischen Nina & Claire
– überhaupt die Abschiedsszene. Ich hab echt ein bisschen geweint. Eine der besten Abschiedsszenen überhaupt.
Bis hierhin hatte ich damals als Jugendliche die Buchreihe gelesen. Ab jetzt kommt komplettes Neuland! Bin gespannt!
– Claire haut ihren Stalker mit einem Hammer nieder. Beste!
– Aisha ist eine Sportskanone, kriegt ein Harvard-Stipendium & ein süßes Happy End
– Benjamin macht ein Foto von einem schönen Moment zwischen Nina & Claire
– überhaupt die Abschiedsszene. Ich hab echt ein bisschen geweint. Eine der besten Abschiedsszenen überhaupt.
Bis hierhin hatte ich damals als Jugendliche die Buchreihe gelesen. Ab jetzt kommt komplettes Neuland! Bin gespannt!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2020
Secrets will come out. Some will be heartbroken and others with find happiness.
February 28, 2017
Feeling nostalgic for the books of my youth, I revisited Katherine Applegate and her Islanders omnibus editions (first released as the Making Out series way back in 1993. Yes, I am that old...).
While I found them to be overly-dramatic and a little bit cheesy on second reading, I think they would be loved by teenagers today. YA has taken a much-welcome step in the sphere of fantasy, science fiction and Dystopia, largely, in recent years so for teenagers looking for the traditional romance novels filled with teen-angst and buried secrets, these are a good series to turn to. A little bit Dawson's Creek in it's setting and it's drama, The Islanders is the perfect teen soap opera.
While I found them to be overly-dramatic and a little bit cheesy on second reading, I think they would be loved by teenagers today. YA has taken a much-welcome step in the sphere of fantasy, science fiction and Dystopia, largely, in recent years so for teenagers looking for the traditional romance novels filled with teen-angst and buried secrets, these are a good series to turn to. A little bit Dawson's Creek in it's setting and it's drama, The Islanders is the perfect teen soap opera.
February 20, 2017
This one was waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the 4 previous ones. Drama, closure, departures. In a way, I'm already feeling kind of sad that the MO series reaches its end. In an other way, I'm glad because I really want to read other stuff.
The plots regarding Aisha are still pretty tedious to read (and Christopher is turning into a bigger a--hole with every page I'm reading), the Zoey one is less tedious (though she really acts like a spoiled brat, and this is getting on my nerves) and I really liked when the drama wrapped up around our Chatham Island kids around the end of the novel
The plots regarding Aisha are still pretty tedious to read (and Christopher is turning into a bigger a--hole with every page I'm reading), the Zoey one is less tedious (though she really acts like a spoiled brat, and this is getting on my nerves) and I really liked when the drama wrapped up around our Chatham Island kids around the end of the novel
December 6, 2023
I remember being obsessed with this series when I was 14! I made my mom buy me all 29 books (in Germany a 29th book was published, there is no English translation) after borrowing the first one from my then-best friend.
Looking back, the plots got wilder and wilder with time: A lost half-sister, Claire's stalker, Ben miraculously being able to see again etc. I don't think I would enjoy it as much now as I did ten years ago, but it will only have a special place in my heart.
Looking back, the plots got wilder and wilder with time: A lost half-sister, Claire's stalker, Ben miraculously being able to see again etc. I don't think I would enjoy it as much now as I did ten years ago, but it will only have a special place in my heart.
January 9, 2017
diese Buchreihe hat mich während meiner Teeniezeit begleitet. ich habe sie so geliebt...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews