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The True Meaning of Cleavage
Having feared the worst for ninth grade, Jess sees signs of things falling apart all around her as her best friend, Sari, falls for a handsome senior, begins to give her the brush-off, and leaves her in limbo with no established ties to any group of her own. Jr Lib Guild. Reprint.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
17 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
Mariah Fredericks
27 books694 followersMariah Fredericks was born, raised, and still lives in New York City. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in history. She is the author of the Jane Prescott mystery series as well as The Lindbergh Nanny, which Nelson DeMille called, "a masterful blending of fact and fiction that is as compelling as it is entertaining." The Wharton Plot, was named one of the best mysteries of 2024 by Library Journal. "An Edith Wharton scholar could read Ms. Frederick’s novel with profit and amusement."—Wall Street Journal. Her next novel, The Girl in the Green Dress, featuring Zelda Fitzgerald and New Yorker writer Morris Markey, is out September 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 12, 2009
I hate it when the cover is better than the book!
September 25, 2019
The true meaning of cleavage may sound weird at first, but it surprised me with its unique plot and interesting characters. The book is about a girl named Jess and her high school life, this sounds cliche but its really not. Her best friend Sari falls in love with a super popular jock dude, which makes Sari and Jess's friendship drift away but then constantly go from friends to not friends. This happens way too much in the book and is the reason that I didn't give it 5 stars. Then ending feels very forced but I won't spoil it here. The overall theme is about how you shouldn't backstab your friends. But overall it was a great read and I highly recommend you give it a read.
December 25, 2016
*Read on Riveted. Free until 31 December.*
One reviewer said that she hates it when the cover is better than the book.
I found that with The True Meaning of Cleavage, there was one sentence in the book that was actually kind of deep/interesting/what I think (?) the book was trying to be about. Jess, our tomboy-nerd-geek protagonist, was talking about the actual definition of the word "cleavage." To cleave through enemies is to cut them in half - to see cleavage is not to see breasts, but to see the space between breasts.
That was all the reader was given to explain the title and its connection to the rest of the book. The space between. I can only imagine that Jess was trying to allude to the space between her and her BFF Sari after they argued. However, this simile quickly falls apart when you realize that in that context, Sari and Jess are each breasts. (Sorry. That's where my brain went and there's no coming back after that...)
The True Meaning of Cleavage did interest me at first just by the title. However, a 2/5 star rating quickly dropped to a 1/5 star rating when there was no substance to the book. Here, I'll even outline the plot for you so you can see what I mean and perhaps save some time that could be dedicated to reading a more worthwhile book.
- Sari is "hot" - Jess is not.
- Sari and Jess have been BFFs since 7th grade. They are now entering 9th grade.
- Sari "falls madly and psychotically in love" with a senior who is part of the It Couple.
- Jess thinks the whole thing is stupid.
- Sari makes dumb choices due to her crush and gets bullied at school.
- Jess thinks the whole thing is stupid but tries to be supportive.
- Jess and Sari almost stop being BFFs because Jess is able to think "logically and rationally" about the situation but Sari is not. (Since when was a 14 year old girl logical and rational...? I guess it happens sometimes, but only rarely...)
- Things happen. Jess goes back to being supportive of her friend while wondering why Sari can't just stop it with the crush. (Yet Jess keeps coming back to support Sari for no apparent reason, since Sari keeps being nasty to Jess...)
- Sari and Jess, BFFs 4EVER by the end of the book.
Drama central.
Very realistic portrayal of high school though. Mostly.
Therefore, pretty much boring as hell to read.
The other thing I really liked were Jess's thoughts about being an artist, and her sarcastic remarks about those who "try to look like an ARTIST" or who try to talk about art when they just want to sound smart/pretentious.
Do not recommend. Also, editing in this book was HORRIBLE. So many issues like "shell" instead of "she'll" or "isn" instead of "isn't." Not sure if it was just the format I read it in (Overdrive on my phone) or what, but it drove me crazy.
Edited to add: Also, this book apparently took place in the 1990s. Lots of talk about being on landline phones (no cell phones), about renting videos and rewinding them (what teens get this these days?), etc. I didn't mind it since I remember all of that stuff, it's what I grew up with, but I wonder if it might be a disconnect for readers now.
One reviewer said that she hates it when the cover is better than the book.
I found that with The True Meaning of Cleavage, there was one sentence in the book that was actually kind of deep/interesting/what I think (?) the book was trying to be about. Jess, our tomboy-nerd-geek protagonist, was talking about the actual definition of the word "cleavage." To cleave through enemies is to cut them in half - to see cleavage is not to see breasts, but to see the space between breasts.
That was all the reader was given to explain the title and its connection to the rest of the book. The space between. I can only imagine that Jess was trying to allude to the space between her and her BFF Sari after they argued. However, this simile quickly falls apart when you realize that in that context, Sari and Jess are each breasts. (Sorry. That's where my brain went and there's no coming back after that...)
The True Meaning of Cleavage did interest me at first just by the title. However, a 2/5 star rating quickly dropped to a 1/5 star rating when there was no substance to the book. Here, I'll even outline the plot for you so you can see what I mean and perhaps save some time that could be dedicated to reading a more worthwhile book.
- Sari is "hot" - Jess is not.
- Sari and Jess have been BFFs since 7th grade. They are now entering 9th grade.
- Sari "falls madly and psychotically in love" with a senior who is part of the It Couple.
- Jess thinks the whole thing is stupid.
- Sari makes dumb choices due to her crush and gets bullied at school.
- Jess thinks the whole thing is stupid but tries to be supportive.
- Jess and Sari almost stop being BFFs because Jess is able to think "logically and rationally" about the situation but Sari is not. (Since when was a 14 year old girl logical and rational...? I guess it happens sometimes, but only rarely...)
- Things happen. Jess goes back to being supportive of her friend while wondering why Sari can't just stop it with the crush. (Yet Jess keeps coming back to support Sari for no apparent reason, since Sari keeps being nasty to Jess...)
- Sari and Jess, BFFs 4EVER by the end of the book.
Drama central.
Very realistic portrayal of high school though. Mostly.
Therefore, pretty much boring as hell to read.
The other thing I really liked were Jess's thoughts about being an artist, and her sarcastic remarks about those who "try to look like an ARTIST" or who try to talk about art when they just want to sound smart/pretentious.
Do not recommend. Also, editing in this book was HORRIBLE. So many issues like "shell" instead of "she'll" or "isn" instead of "isn't." Not sure if it was just the format I read it in (Overdrive on my phone) or what, but it drove me crazy.
Edited to add: Also, this book apparently took place in the 1990s. Lots of talk about being on landline phones (no cell phones), about renting videos and rewinding them (what teens get this these days?), etc. I didn't mind it since I remember all of that stuff, it's what I grew up with, but I wonder if it might be a disconnect for readers now.
November 30, 2015
This book review was written by Sydney V. for the ELANCO Library.
This book is the story of 2 girls going into high school, one is an total nerd and the other wants to be popular and has a crush on the football player who is a senior. ( this book does not actually have long paragraphs about cleavage, there is only one sentence that barely mentions it)
I recommend this book to high school drama lovers.
This book is the story of 2 girls going into high school, one is an total nerd and the other wants to be popular and has a crush on the football player who is a senior. ( this book does not actually have long paragraphs about cleavage, there is only one sentence that barely mentions it)
I recommend this book to high school drama lovers.
November 10, 2012
Reviewed by Amanda Dissinger for TeensReadToo.com
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
These are the words that start out both the beginning and end of THE TRUE MEANING OF CLEAVAGE, a cute little story about two very different best friends and their first year of high school.
Jess, the "tomboy" of the two, is beginning her freshman year with hopes of surviving it. Sari, the "hottie," is beginning her freshman year with hopes of finding love, especially with the most popular senior in the school, David. Oh, did I mention he already has an equally popular girlfriend? Jess warns Sari against getting involved with David, but Sari won't listen, starts ignoring Jess, and is drawn to the danger and excitement of dating a boy three years her elder.
Soon, Sari is in way over her head, and the two girls are drifting more and more apart. Sari confides in Jess about the "affair" and, in a fit of rage, Jess tells the gossip queen of the school about the secret relationship. Both have to deal with the unpleasant consequences as they try to build back the relationship they once had.
Fredericks' characters and plot are very believable; the events in this book can happen to anyone (example: it happened to me in middle school. I was the tomboy.) The book is a light-hearted coming-of-age tale about two friends going through massive changes in their life, and the paths they choose to go on. It is an excellent read for those who want to remember the relationships they have lost in translation, and the relationships they will rekindle again as time goes on.
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
These are the words that start out both the beginning and end of THE TRUE MEANING OF CLEAVAGE, a cute little story about two very different best friends and their first year of high school.
Jess, the "tomboy" of the two, is beginning her freshman year with hopes of surviving it. Sari, the "hottie," is beginning her freshman year with hopes of finding love, especially with the most popular senior in the school, David. Oh, did I mention he already has an equally popular girlfriend? Jess warns Sari against getting involved with David, but Sari won't listen, starts ignoring Jess, and is drawn to the danger and excitement of dating a boy three years her elder.
Soon, Sari is in way over her head, and the two girls are drifting more and more apart. Sari confides in Jess about the "affair" and, in a fit of rage, Jess tells the gossip queen of the school about the secret relationship. Both have to deal with the unpleasant consequences as they try to build back the relationship they once had.
Fredericks' characters and plot are very believable; the events in this book can happen to anyone (example: it happened to me in middle school. I was the tomboy.) The book is a light-hearted coming-of-age tale about two friends going through massive changes in their life, and the paths they choose to go on. It is an excellent read for those who want to remember the relationships they have lost in translation, and the relationships they will rekindle again as time goes on.
"I am drawing a picture of Sari Aaronsohn. She is my best friend."
May 27, 2009
I only gave this three stars because while I did enjoy it, I felt a little let down by the end. I had seen some good reviews for it before I read it, but I don't really agree with them. While it was mildly interesting, I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone. I just think there are other YA fiction books out there in the same subject area that are more intriguing.
September 11, 2010
The only reason I even read this book was because it was a book in the Meg Cabot Book Club (not on goodreads), so I figured it would be good.
I was wrong, it was the worst.
It seemed more like a show that would follow Gossip Girl or some other cheesy teen "drama."
And truthfully I probably hated it because that's kind of what happened to me in school, so it was like I had to relive it all.
I was wrong, it was the worst.
It seemed more like a show that would follow Gossip Girl or some other cheesy teen "drama."
And truthfully I probably hated it because that's kind of what happened to me in school, so it was like I had to relive it all.
January 8, 2013
As much as I like to laugh at this title, since it sounds super trashy, it's a fairly tame wander through freshman year. Being brand-new freshmen, they hover in the maturity realm between junior high and proper teenagers and so they're not the most exciting people to read about (which made it more of a 2.5 star for me), but if that's what you're going for, then by all means go for it.
Read
January 26, 2009not that great of a book kind of boring
February 28, 2018
It wasn't the best teen book I've read but it was VERY relatable--wish I could give it 3 1/2 stars instead of just 3 because it was better than just that.
There was something I felt stood out for me and it probably won't make sense but I wish the sci/fi book/tv series mentioned at the beginning of the chapters was real. For being imaginary, it went with the story well and it made me hopeful that it WAS real so I could be obsessed with it as much as Danny and Jess were.
There was something I felt stood out for me and it probably won't make sense but I wish the sci/fi book/tv series mentioned at the beginning of the chapters was real. For being imaginary, it went with the story well and it made me hopeful that it WAS real so I could be obsessed with it as much as Danny and Jess were.
January 16, 2026
Sari and Jess are trying to survive raging hormones, changes in friendships, and NOT getting insulted by the Prada Mafia in their freshman year. Yet that all changes when Sari succumbs to the freshman crush on the senior soccer player and spends the rest of the year trying to find her identity while Jess tries to how their pact to stay true to themselves disappeared.
December 13, 2016
Simply put, I think there was more to Jess that just didn't come through in the book. Yes, Sari's life seemed interesting, but it overshadowed the plot and dictated Jess's moods, which was a bit annoying to read.
June 4, 2017
It was interesting to watch the characters develop and they were written believable for their age with is always welcomed. I hope this books reads as a warning for girls going into high school and even older.
December 22, 2016
the cover totally got me in haha and the book wasn't bad either
actually believable, i was the tomboy friend haha
actually believable, i was the tomboy friend haha
July 19, 2016
At First Sight: Sari and Jess are about to start high school at Eldrige Alternative and while Sari can't wait, completely ready for something BIG to happen to her, Jess dreads it a little - wondering if she'll survive or what will happen if something does happen to Sari and nothing happens to her.
While Jess is still dizzy from the whirlwind of activity and the craziness of the first day, Sari spots the most popular guy at school: David Cole and falls instantly, psycho in love with him.
From then on, the ongoing story of Sari and David - which mostly goes on inside of Sari's head, at first - permeates Jess' life. And, as the year progresses, Jess can't stop worrying: worrying about Sari's mood swings and personality switches, about the lengths Sari will go to get and keep David's attention, about Sari getting used, about Sari getting her heart broken.
At the same time, Jess struggles to get used to high school herself with the overload of work, and the Prada Mafia glaring and her and Sari all the time, and to the general crazy of growing up and (maybe) growing apart from your best friend.
Second Glance: I honestly love this book and this author. And I think that this book gets it: the crazy and the overflow of emotions of when you're fourteen and everything seems both possible and impossible at the same time. And I think Jess was a great narrator: she was honest and real, vulnerable but with her own strengths too, and she never blinded herself to Sari's behavior, she knew Sari was being a bad friend sometimes.
And she also brings some perspective to David's character - with whom she shares a class - on how he really is aside from being the king of the school.
Jess also has a good relationship with her parents, which I love because I hate when characters have cartoonish parents. And she even develops a bit of a romance with a fellow fan of Hollow Planet.
Hollow Planet is another thing I loved, it's book series Jess is a fan of, and she's always making references to them, and the epigraphs are bits of the book.
Bottom Line: The True Meaning of Cleavage is one of the books I most often recommend for younger teens. For me its about these two friends who sort of need to grow apart a little to stay the best friends they could be, even if the process hurts.
Favorite Quote: "Over the weekend, I study like mad for my biology final. I read about reproduction, how sperm fertilizes egg, how chromosomes divide, become zygote, become fetus. So that's love.
I read about arteries, how they carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart to the rest of the body. How once the heart stops, the oxygen to the brain stops and the brain waves cease. So that's death."
"The meeting took place in an ancient grove of oak. They sat among the gnarled roots of a great tree and laid their plans. The future was unknown to them, but they were certain of one thing: Their alliance was strong, their bond unbreakable." Hollow Planet: Destiny's Sword
"At last, the two armies met on the battlefield. There was a terrible silence, followed by the first shriek of war. Followed finally by the even more terrible and lasting silence of loss" - Hollow Planet: Destiny's Sword.
"The victories came where they were not expected. Defeats too. But in the end, their forces emerged intact. Ragged, battered, but still loyal." - Hollow Planet: Thorvald's Hammer.
While Jess is still dizzy from the whirlwind of activity and the craziness of the first day, Sari spots the most popular guy at school: David Cole and falls instantly, psycho in love with him.
From then on, the ongoing story of Sari and David - which mostly goes on inside of Sari's head, at first - permeates Jess' life. And, as the year progresses, Jess can't stop worrying: worrying about Sari's mood swings and personality switches, about the lengths Sari will go to get and keep David's attention, about Sari getting used, about Sari getting her heart broken.
At the same time, Jess struggles to get used to high school herself with the overload of work, and the Prada Mafia glaring and her and Sari all the time, and to the general crazy of growing up and (maybe) growing apart from your best friend.
Second Glance: I honestly love this book and this author. And I think that this book gets it: the crazy and the overflow of emotions of when you're fourteen and everything seems both possible and impossible at the same time. And I think Jess was a great narrator: she was honest and real, vulnerable but with her own strengths too, and she never blinded herself to Sari's behavior, she knew Sari was being a bad friend sometimes.
And she also brings some perspective to David's character - with whom she shares a class - on how he really is aside from being the king of the school.
Jess also has a good relationship with her parents, which I love because I hate when characters have cartoonish parents. And she even develops a bit of a romance with a fellow fan of Hollow Planet.
Hollow Planet is another thing I loved, it's book series Jess is a fan of, and she's always making references to them, and the epigraphs are bits of the book.
Bottom Line: The True Meaning of Cleavage is one of the books I most often recommend for younger teens. For me its about these two friends who sort of need to grow apart a little to stay the best friends they could be, even if the process hurts.
Favorite Quote: "Over the weekend, I study like mad for my biology final. I read about reproduction, how sperm fertilizes egg, how chromosomes divide, become zygote, become fetus. So that's love.
I read about arteries, how they carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart to the rest of the body. How once the heart stops, the oxygen to the brain stops and the brain waves cease. So that's death."
"The meeting took place in an ancient grove of oak. They sat among the gnarled roots of a great tree and laid their plans. The future was unknown to them, but they were certain of one thing: Their alliance was strong, their bond unbreakable." Hollow Planet: Destiny's Sword
"At last, the two armies met on the battlefield. There was a terrible silence, followed by the first shriek of war. Followed finally by the even more terrible and lasting silence of loss" - Hollow Planet: Destiny's Sword.
"The victories came where they were not expected. Defeats too. But in the end, their forces emerged intact. Ragged, battered, but still loyal." - Hollow Planet: Thorvald's Hammer.
October 22, 2017
The setting of "The True Meaning of Cleavage" takes place in modern day at a high school. The two main characters are Jess and Sari and they fight a lot. Jess and Sari have been best friends since the seventh grade and they are now freshman. Jess is the least popular of the two and struggles to keep her friendship with Sari. Sari is the "hot" best friend that gets a lot of attention.
Sari's choices in the book are not very good ones because she didn't think before she did things. She always ditches Jess to hang out with people and go to dances. While Jess wonders what she did wrong. Sari also starts liking the popular guy in the school, who is also a senior, who is also in a relationship with the most popular girl.She makes poor decisions due to this "crush" and almost loses her best friend. Jess is always making bad decisions about the friendship and always comes back to support Sari. I didn't get to into the book so I will not be reading anymore books by the author and it just isn't my forte.
My opinion of the book was that it was very clique and basic. It reminded me of those really sappy teen romance movies and they almost stop being friends and in the end they're best friends again and it was all over some guy. Sari also gets made fun of and teased for her crush which also happens in a lot of teen movies. Some people may like that but I don't.
Sari's choices in the book are not very good ones because she didn't think before she did things. She always ditches Jess to hang out with people and go to dances. While Jess wonders what she did wrong. Sari also starts liking the popular guy in the school, who is also a senior, who is also in a relationship with the most popular girl.She makes poor decisions due to this "crush" and almost loses her best friend. Jess is always making bad decisions about the friendship and always comes back to support Sari. I didn't get to into the book so I will not be reading anymore books by the author and it just isn't my forte.
My opinion of the book was that it was very clique and basic. It reminded me of those really sappy teen romance movies and they almost stop being friends and in the end they're best friends again and it was all over some guy. Sari also gets made fun of and teased for her crush which also happens in a lot of teen movies. Some people may like that but I don't.
February 2, 2017
The True Meaning of Cleavage is a short and sweet story about two friends, Jess and Sari, entering high school and the ups and downs that come with Sari's massive crush on the most popular guy in school, David.
Jess is the tomboy of the two, completely uninterested in love and other people. Sari, on the other hand, is the hot one, who came to high school with the goal of finding love, preferably with David, who has an equally popular girlfriend, Thea.
Jess was one of the most relatable characters I've read about in a long time. Her voice felt very real and she was, for most of the book, a really great friend. Of course, I understood why she did what she did at the end of the book, but that didn't really make it right, so she was even more realistic.
Same, Jess.
Sari, on the other hand, was not nearly as good of a character. She basically revolved around David, and constantly tried to get him to notice her. For most of the book, she was a terrible friend to Jess, and was incredibly selfish.
I did not like her.
As for the other characters (David, Thea, Danny), I don't have that much to say. I really liked how the author showed them to be more than Jess's initial perception of them- they were shown to be human, and I appreciated that. Even with David's cheating on Thea and her subsequent rage, they weren't portrayed as completely terrible human beings.
(Also, with Danny...I ship it.)
The dialogue was a little stiff, and there definitely were more than a couple editing errors, but all in all, it was a good book. A little boring, because it was about high school, and high school is kind of boring, but it held my interest enough for me to want to finish it.
3 stars.
This review, and others, can also be read on my blog.
Jess is the tomboy of the two, completely uninterested in love and other people. Sari, on the other hand, is the hot one, who came to high school with the goal of finding love, preferably with David, who has an equally popular girlfriend, Thea.
I want to raise my hand and ask: What if we can't do any of these things? What if we're good at some things and not so fabulous at others? What if I have to throw up in the middle of my SATs? What if we're just sort of...average?
Jess was one of the most relatable characters I've read about in a long time. Her voice felt very real and she was, for most of the book, a really great friend. Of course, I understood why she did what she did at the end of the book, but that didn't really make it right, so she was even more realistic.
I finished my last exam five minutes ago. I am sitting in the middle stall of the bathroom.
My brain has ceased to function. I am too tired even to go home.
Same, Jess.
Here's my list:
DAD: Big new book on Vietnam.
MOM: New Tracy Chapman CD
NOBO: Pup Pops in assorted flavors
SARI: "Women Who Love Men Who Don't Love Them"
Sari, on the other hand, was not nearly as good of a character. She basically revolved around David, and constantly tried to get him to notice her. For most of the book, she was a terrible friend to Jess, and was incredibly selfish.
I did not like her.
I don't like Sari right now. I don't like her at all. If this is who she's going to be, I don't want to know her.
As for the other characters (David, Thea, Danny), I don't have that much to say. I really liked how the author showed them to be more than Jess's initial perception of them- they were shown to be human, and I appreciated that. Even with David's cheating on Thea and her subsequent rage, they weren't portrayed as completely terrible human beings.
(Also, with Danny...I ship it.)
The dialogue was a little stiff, and there definitely were more than a couple editing errors, but all in all, it was a good book. A little boring, because it was about high school, and high school is kind of boring, but it held my interest enough for me to want to finish it.
3 stars.
Sari's "in love." And apparently, when you're in love, you don't mind being in love with someone who pretends you don't exist except on Thursdays.
This review, and others, can also be read on my blog.
March 10, 2010
This book is AMAZING! All girls should read it... and I'm sure some boys will want to read it also. The story is about best friends, Sari and Jess who have VERY different experiences at high school only because Sari is considered hot by the guys who go there and Jess isn't. It's a book about the difference that appearance makes and how judgmental people can be. And it is so well written and true to all middle school or high school age girls.
The characters in "The True Meaning of Cleavage" are so relevant and accessible, it feels like they could be real people living now. I love Jess because she is so honest and is never trying to be anybody she's not. She's a total nerd, but in a good way. She loves drawing and reading fantasy books. She always stands by her friend Sari's side, although Sari soon starts to stop returning the favor.
When Jess and Sari reach high school, Sari realizes the advantage of being considered hot and starts going after the boy in the senior golden couple. Jess struggles to watch her friend going to parties and trying to be popular while she isn't interested in either of those things. She thinks what Sari's doing is wrong, but doesn't know how to communicate her feelings and thinks she wouldn't be listened to. What I never saw from Jess though was low self esteem, which I thought seemed weird. She has this friend who's getting so much attention all the time completely based on her looks and Jess is still invisible because she doesn't look like Sari. That's pretty much how middle school works and it can make people feel really bad about themselves, but I never saw that from Jess. I think she's a really strong person.
The characters in "The True Meaning of Cleavage" are so relevant and accessible, it feels like they could be real people living now. I love Jess because she is so honest and is never trying to be anybody she's not. She's a total nerd, but in a good way. She loves drawing and reading fantasy books. She always stands by her friend Sari's side, although Sari soon starts to stop returning the favor.
When Jess and Sari reach high school, Sari realizes the advantage of being considered hot and starts going after the boy in the senior golden couple. Jess struggles to watch her friend going to parties and trying to be popular while she isn't interested in either of those things. She thinks what Sari's doing is wrong, but doesn't know how to communicate her feelings and thinks she wouldn't be listened to. What I never saw from Jess though was low self esteem, which I thought seemed weird. She has this friend who's getting so much attention all the time completely based on her looks and Jess is still invisible because she doesn't look like Sari. That's pretty much how middle school works and it can make people feel really bad about themselves, but I never saw that from Jess. I think she's a really strong person.
December 30, 2007
The True Meaning of Cleavage by Mariah Fredericks is told through the perspective of Jesse, the protagonist whom is the best friend of Sari that occurs the beginning of Jesse and Sari’s freshman year in high school. During their first year, both characters experience arguments with each other about issues they had never faced before. One of these issues is when Sari has a major crush on a senior yet he has a girlfriend but is cheating on her to be with Sari. The protagonist is left alone and only being “visible” when others wanted to take advantage of her. Throughout the book, the friendship between Sari and Jesse weakens but the bonds soon strengthen at the end of the book. While reading this book, I thought that the pace of the book moves pretty quickly because the book covers an entire school year. First, the book starts out with August and moving on to the winter season but a few chapters later, it tells the reader that it is May then July which makes it hard to follow. However, the book has a lot of inner thoughts and feelings that even today, teenagers experience daily. In addition, the events that they experience are common or similar to the ones that we go through which makes reader connect to a lot of reactions and emotions to the book. For example, I remember when Sari and Jesse are experiencing cleavage, it reminded me of my friends who goes to different schools than I am and when we hang out, sometimes we try to find topics that we all can talk about instead of leaving others out.
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October 8, 2013What do you do when your BFF - best friend forever - gets weird on you? I mean, starting 9th grade is hard enough without suddenly having your friend wig out and start talking smack, right?
Jess and Sari talk every day. They spent the summer after 8th grade watching bad movies and taking the cross-town bus back and forth to each others’ houses.
On the bus, Jess notices the guy across the aisle staring at them - well, really at Sari. It’s been happening a lot this summer. All of a sudden, men who could be in college or even married have been checking Sari out. Mostly this was funny, but one time, a guy ran after them and asked Sari to marry him. It kind of freaked Sari out, Jess could tell.
Well, Sari is starting to creep Jess out now. She’s changed since school started - she’s obsessed with this guy - and the guy already has a girlfriend. This new Sari is not friendly, this new Sari asks Jess to go to parties when she and Jess used to hate parties. This new Sari begs Jess to “stay by her side” at the party and “not leave her alone” - and then takes off and abandons Jess five minutes into the party.
But friends are friends, right? They’re supposed to watch out for each other, right? What happens when you sometimes feel invisible to your once-best-friend? What if they used to “have your back” and now don’t even know where your back is?
Jess and Sari talk every day. They spent the summer after 8th grade watching bad movies and taking the cross-town bus back and forth to each others’ houses.
On the bus, Jess notices the guy across the aisle staring at them - well, really at Sari. It’s been happening a lot this summer. All of a sudden, men who could be in college or even married have been checking Sari out. Mostly this was funny, but one time, a guy ran after them and asked Sari to marry him. It kind of freaked Sari out, Jess could tell.
Well, Sari is starting to creep Jess out now. She’s changed since school started - she’s obsessed with this guy - and the guy already has a girlfriend. This new Sari is not friendly, this new Sari asks Jess to go to parties when she and Jess used to hate parties. This new Sari begs Jess to “stay by her side” at the party and “not leave her alone” - and then takes off and abandons Jess five minutes into the party.
But friends are friends, right? They’re supposed to watch out for each other, right? What happens when you sometimes feel invisible to your once-best-friend? What if they used to “have your back” and now don’t even know where your back is?
April 8, 2013
Jess and her best friend Sari are nervous and excited about starting high school. They are both eager for new things, but Jess is worried that something exciting will happen to Sari, but nothing will happen to her. They enter high school and find that it isn't quite as hard to get used to as they worried it would be. Then Sari falls madly and psychotically in love with the king of the school: David Cole. Jess watches her best friend as she gives up everything to be with him. Through hard ups and downs, they fight to keep their friendship. The question is: will high school tear them apart?
This wasn't an outstanding story, but I think it would really resonate with the right teen. It deals with a lot of friendship issues, with making stupid mistakes, with exploring sexuality and the often painful consequences of such behavior, and finding where you belong. It isn't explicit in any way, but still makes a powerful point. I liked that about the book. It explores an important issue that a lot of teens face without causing an R rating. I would recommend it to kids who were wondering about and dealing with friends or their own sexual relationship problems. It teaches an important principle about self-respect and trusting your friends.
This wasn't an outstanding story, but I think it would really resonate with the right teen. It deals with a lot of friendship issues, with making stupid mistakes, with exploring sexuality and the often painful consequences of such behavior, and finding where you belong. It isn't explicit in any way, but still makes a powerful point. I liked that about the book. It explores an important issue that a lot of teens face without causing an R rating. I would recommend it to kids who were wondering about and dealing with friends or their own sexual relationship problems. It teaches an important principle about self-respect and trusting your friends.
September 13, 2009
I read this book in one day, which is usually a good thing. It doesn't really mean anything this time. Just that I read it in one day. It felt like a lot of other high school, coming-of-age books. Main Character and Friend are starting high school. Friend ends up tripping down a path that Main Character and Reader aren't thrilled with. Main Character and Friend stop being friends until Friends reaches the crisis point, at which time Main Character rescues Friend and things go back to normal. And somewhere there is probably a bathroom gossip wall and a stupid high school party where everyone but Main Character gets drunk, or at least tipsy (usually ugly-tipsy), while Main Character whinges on about how stupid high school booze parties are. So why are there always high school booze parties. (Oh, right. Because high schoolers really are that dumb.) So while I won't call this book a waste of my time and say that it wasn't worth reading, because it was rather worth reading, I'm fairy certain it isn't worth reading again. And re the cover's tag-line: No, I didn't laugh out loud, and no, I didn't find it particularly twisted.
November 2, 2012
Fredericke Mariah is the author of the true meaning of cleavage ,the book started in high school.I can make a text to the world because in the world this happen a lot a girl called Sari in 9th grade who was in love with a guy who was already having a girlfriend. Oneday sari told his friend to go to the party with her the school was having a party. And Sari wanted to go to the party because the guy she's inlove with was goin to the party too without his girlfriend so she thought that will be the biggest time to get him. At the party one of her mate was drunk so Sari's friend tryed to take him home, when she went with the drunk guy it was now sari along at that party with the guy she's inlove with. They started talking and they end up having sex in the bathroom. Sari thought he was goin to live his girlfriend and come for her but he did not he just dumped sari and move on with his girlfriend. what i like about this book is that Sari stopped thinking about the guy and get back to her friend and they became friends again cause she was not talking to her friend for what she did.
February 5, 2009
This was a heart warming book about the life of teenage girls and how friendship's change and how real friends stick together through the worst. In this story there is drama between how girls mature faster physically and mentally. The strugle between two bestfriends and the obsession teenage girls have for boys. Friendships are put to the test as one friend has to choose a friends feelings or the friends reputation.
I enjoyed this story because i was able to relate with one of the characters named Jess and the fact that she had to deal with the drama of her frehsman year and the adjusment of her bestfriends attitude and personality. Sari the other bestfriend went through alot of up's and down's, she went through alot of life changing emotional, and dramatic experiences. My opinion on this book is very strong I felt in touch with the author's portrayal of the story. I was able to relate to this story and it helped me see my life in another perspective.
November 9, 2012
Jesse is a freshman in high school. She is a geek and has a best friend named Sari. Sari is enamored with David Cole, the hottest senior in school. The problem is David has a girlfriend but Sari doesn’t let this bother her. Sari starts to see David every Thursday night and elicits a promise from Jesse not to tell. Jesse holds to her promise and watches as David cheats on his girlfriend and hurts Sari. Finally someone asks Jesse out right if Sari and David are seeing each other and she says, “Yes.”
At first I didn’t understand what the title had to do with anything until I realized it meant separation. I liked the book because it showed what really does go on at school. Jesse talks to her parents and sees that drinking and drugs are not something she wants to do. She argues with herself about what is right or wrong and I do this all the time. I liked the book because I could relate to the character even though I am out of high school.
At first I didn’t understand what the title had to do with anything until I realized it meant separation. I liked the book because it showed what really does go on at school. Jesse talks to her parents and sees that drinking and drugs are not something she wants to do. She argues with herself about what is right or wrong and I do this all the time. I liked the book because I could relate to the character even though I am out of high school.
January 27, 2013
Disclaimer: I am a guy, so this book may have been a little different for me.
You can pretty much affix the above sentence to the aft end of anything I say here.
I think this was a good book. It was not NEAR as funny as I thought it would be, but it was good fun. It follows the classic format for a coming of age novel, where two friends are split apart because of changes in their lives. The characters themselves are pretty good, with developing personalities, and even likeable personalities. However, the dialogue felt a little clunky sometimes, and the protagonists self dialogue was a little silly - a very obviously smart girl somehow misses seeing the glaringly obvious details, which just slows the story down while you passively wait for her to come to her senses and see what is staring at her in the face.
You can pretty much affix the above sentence to the aft end of anything I say here.
I think this was a good book. It was not NEAR as funny as I thought it would be, but it was good fun. It follows the classic format for a coming of age novel, where two friends are split apart because of changes in their lives. The characters themselves are pretty good, with developing personalities, and even likeable personalities. However, the dialogue felt a little clunky sometimes, and the protagonists self dialogue was a little silly - a very obviously smart girl somehow misses seeing the glaringly obvious details, which just slows the story down while you passively wait for her to come to her senses and see what is staring at her in the face.
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January 3, 2017The true meaning of cleavage by Mariah Fredericks, It takes place in school and her house but it mostly talks about how they both want to know how it would be like to be a freshman in high school, how it’s going to be they really want to experience what it is like to be in high school. They start talking about boys and if they have ever liked someone. The main idea in the book is how they would think high school is and what would happen throughout the years and how it would be to experience it. In my opinion i think any person who enjoys reading about drama. People would like the aspects because this book is mostly about drama. Also they’re like an a mystery. I don’t know if any of my classmates would enjoy this because not everyone has the same taste in books. I would recommend this to my friends since we all like drama books and it’s pretty confusing but interesting in a way.
June 4, 2009
Best friends Sari and Jess are freshmen. Suddenly, when they had used to both despise the popular "in" crowd, Sari's chasing after the hottest senior in school, David, who just happens to already have a girlfriend. Jess is afraid that Sari's lusting after David will result in the end of their friendship. If Sari's turned to the dark side of parties and boys, she's not going to want to hang out with outcast Jess anymore. It's possible: Sari is hot and stylish. Jess couldn't care less about appearances and being accepted. How will their freshman year turn out?
This book was surprisingly very good. I loved Jess's voice: so wise, and yet so vulnerable at times. Jess is a protagonist you will want to root for through her difficult journey.
This book was surprisingly very good. I loved Jess's voice: so wise, and yet so vulnerable at times. Jess is a protagonist you will want to root for through her difficult journey.
January 24, 2008
The title is lies. This book has nothing to do with cleavage! FALSE ADVERTISING!
I guess books have to pull out the big guns in the title and cover picture departments when their content isn't actually very good. From the beginning, I thought it was going to be so bad that I would not make it all the way through the book, but it got progressively better and a large portion of the middle is pretty good. Would I recommend it? No, but it's better to read than, say, assembly instructions for an IKEA desk.
I guess books have to pull out the big guns in the title and cover picture departments when their content isn't actually very good. From the beginning, I thought it was going to be so bad that I would not make it all the way through the book, but it got progressively better and a large portion of the middle is pretty good. Would I recommend it? No, but it's better to read than, say, assembly instructions for an IKEA desk.
November 19, 2009
This is a book about two best friends who fall apart during Freshman year of high school when one of them enters into a secret relationship with the most popular boy in school. (Secret because he's officially dating someone else.) It's so realistic, and I couldn't WAIT to see what would happen to finally snap the girl out of it. Not a wrong note in the piece, and although lots of people make really bad choices, no one is just one thing, or demonized, and I found myself empathizing with every single character at different points throughout the story.
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