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Making Out #20
Lara spielt falsch
If you've got something to hide, never trust Lara. She's out for revenge. In Making Out #20, Lara's lost Jake to Kate, and now she's going to make everyone pay -- specially Zoey. Lara knows secrets that can hurt Zoey -- and Lucas -- and despite all her promises, she's not above revealing them if it means revenge. Look out, Chatham Island, Lara's scheming again...
155 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 1997
About the author
Katherine Applegate
283 books6,461 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 6, 2023
* Everyone finds out that Lara has run away.
* Claire's parents tell her to go out with other people, not Aaron.
* Lara phones her dad and tells him that she's sober, and she wants to stay sober on her own, she doesn't want to go back to the clinic.
* Lara dresses up as a fortune teller at the carnival. She follows Lucas around until he eventually agrees to have his fortune told. She tells him that his future is his father's future. She then tells Jake that he's haunted by the death, tells Zoey that Lucas won't be true to her, and tells Aisha that Christopher does not belong to her, that he belongs to someone from his previous life.
* Claire has a date with the son of one of her father's friends, but doesn't have a good time. Aaron has a date with a school friend and has a reasonably good time. Claire is not impressed by this.
* Lara talks with Jake after turning up at his AA meeting, she tricks him into talking to her, and then uses what he says against Kate who is feeling rather depressed.
* Zoey gets invited to attend a conference in Washington and can't wait to go. Her parents throw a celebratory party at their restaurant, Lucas doesn't turn up. He then turns up when she's at work to apologise and give her a shell with a picture of them inside it.
* Nina arranges a big date for herself and Benjamin, but Benjamin forgets and makes other plans with two other girls, and Nina is really pissed off.
* Lindsay calls for Aaron, and Claire is pissed off.
* Kate is hiding in her bed when she gets a call to say that Mr Cabral has suffered a heart attack and died. She then has to find Mrs Cabral and Lucas and break the news.
* They have a funeral which makes Claire and Nina remember their own mother's funeral.
* Zoey asks Lucas if he needs her, or if she should go to Washington. He tells her that he doesn't need her now, but he will need her later when everyone else has forgotten what happened and has left him alone. Zoey realises that he's telling her she can go to Washington, but he doesn't want her to go to California for university.
* Claire's parents tell her to go out with other people, not Aaron.
* Lara phones her dad and tells him that she's sober, and she wants to stay sober on her own, she doesn't want to go back to the clinic.
* Lara dresses up as a fortune teller at the carnival. She follows Lucas around until he eventually agrees to have his fortune told. She tells him that his future is his father's future. She then tells Jake that he's haunted by the death, tells Zoey that Lucas won't be true to her, and tells Aisha that Christopher does not belong to her, that he belongs to someone from his previous life.
* Claire has a date with the son of one of her father's friends, but doesn't have a good time. Aaron has a date with a school friend and has a reasonably good time. Claire is not impressed by this.
* Lara talks with Jake after turning up at his AA meeting, she tricks him into talking to her, and then uses what he says against Kate who is feeling rather depressed.
* Zoey gets invited to attend a conference in Washington and can't wait to go. Her parents throw a celebratory party at their restaurant, Lucas doesn't turn up. He then turns up when she's at work to apologise and give her a shell with a picture of them inside it.
* Nina arranges a big date for herself and Benjamin, but Benjamin forgets and makes other plans with two other girls, and Nina is really pissed off.
* Lindsay calls for Aaron, and Claire is pissed off.
* Kate is hiding in her bed when she gets a call to say that Mr Cabral has suffered a heart attack and died. She then has to find Mrs Cabral and Lucas and break the news.
* They have a funeral which makes Claire and Nina remember their own mother's funeral.
* Zoey asks Lucas if he needs her, or if she should go to Washington. He tells her that he doesn't need her now, but he will need her later when everyone else has forgotten what happened and has left him alone. Zoey realises that he's telling her she can go to Washington, but he doesn't want her to go to California for university.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2015
Hoooorrrrible.
This book was full of a lot of silly, petty things - Lara's irritating, Benjamin's an idiot, Aisha sucks, etc - and then something happened that I wasn't expecting. I didn't think it was going to happen for a few more books, and it blindsided me. It hit me a lot harder now as an adult than it did when I was a kid. I don't want to spoil anything or even talk about it, really, but there was this one part that, in the midst of it all, I adored.
Nina's hand instinctively sought Claire's -- and found it. She knew what Claire was thinking. I can't look at her, or I'll start to cry.
She looked. Claire's eyes rimmed over with tears. She swiftly crawled over Aaron and sat next to Nina, clutching her with both hands. "I know, I know," Nina whispered, smoothing her sister's hair. She squeezed her hands.
You could get rid of every other character in this and I'd still read 28 books about the Geiger sisters, who fight and laugh inappropriately in church one second and then turn around and crawl to each other in tears the next. I love these two sisters together more than any other relationship in this series, and almost as much as any relationship Applegate has ever created. They're so strong.
Overall, Nina was the shining star in this, the fragile one who seemed to be the only one who knew how to be sturdy and strong and supportive for everyone else when something horrible happens. I loved that about this one: the fragile ones came out swinging. Nina and Kate in particular. (The scene with Kate and Lucas's mother and then Kate with Zoey on the beach murdered me.) I loved that the others who treat Nina like she's a little kid were the ones who didn't have a clue what to do. Nina Geiger is a real triumph.
This book was full of a lot of silly, petty things - Lara's irritating, Benjamin's an idiot, Aisha sucks, etc - and then something happened that I wasn't expecting. I didn't think it was going to happen for a few more books, and it blindsided me. It hit me a lot harder now as an adult than it did when I was a kid. I don't want to spoil anything or even talk about it, really, but there was this one part that, in the midst of it all, I adored.
Nina's hand instinctively sought Claire's -- and found it. She knew what Claire was thinking. I can't look at her, or I'll start to cry.
She looked. Claire's eyes rimmed over with tears. She swiftly crawled over Aaron and sat next to Nina, clutching her with both hands. "I know, I know," Nina whispered, smoothing her sister's hair. She squeezed her hands.
You could get rid of every other character in this and I'd still read 28 books about the Geiger sisters, who fight and laugh inappropriately in church one second and then turn around and crawl to each other in tears the next. I love these two sisters together more than any other relationship in this series, and almost as much as any relationship Applegate has ever created. They're so strong.
Overall, Nina was the shining star in this, the fragile one who seemed to be the only one who knew how to be sturdy and strong and supportive for everyone else when something horrible happens. I loved that about this one: the fragile ones came out swinging. Nina and Kate in particular. (The scene with Kate and Lucas's mother and then Kate with Zoey on the beach murdered me.) I loved that the others who treat Nina like she's a little kid were the ones who didn't have a clue what to do. Nina Geiger is a real triumph.
October 10, 2018
Nina really irked me in this book. I don't know if it's because I know she's about to betray her best friend or not but her behaviour is not cute anymore. From the outfit she decided to wear to the carnival and then get self conscious because no one was noticing her, to her not understanding that her boyfriend who's just gained his sight back might not want to sit around watching TV all day.
I've already established that Lucas is a selfish jerk but really. First he misses the graduation party and then Zoey's celebration party smh. Also, a few books ago, he was reading Zoey's journal because he wanted them to have no secrets from each other but as of the previous book, he's decided that he'd rather keep everything to himself(and his girlfriends best friend) 😑.
The same goes for Christopher and his "big secret" (which I'm really not interested in at all). Funnily enough, I'm starting to see Lara in a different light. Yes, she's a delusional psycho who blames all her problems on other people, but at least she's consistent!
I've already established that Lucas is a selfish jerk but really. First he misses the graduation party and then Zoey's celebration party smh. Also, a few books ago, he was reading Zoey's journal because he wanted them to have no secrets from each other but as of the previous book, he's decided that he'd rather keep everything to himself(and his girlfriends best friend) 😑.
The same goes for Christopher and his "big secret" (which I'm really not interested in at all). Funnily enough, I'm starting to see Lara in a different light. Yes, she's a delusional psycho who blames all her problems on other people, but at least she's consistent!
August 9, 2015
Lara has left rehab and is dead set on getting revenge against the Chatham Island crew. Revenge for what exactly, I'm not sure. After donning a wig at Passmore's Restaurant to get the latest gossip on island goings-on, she dresses as a fortune teller at the carnival in Weymouth and gives the gang some nasty predictions for the future. No-one recognises her, apparently she's a master of disguise.
All the Chatham Island couples are on the rocks:
Nina and Benjamin: He doesn't want to be a couch potato, she does.
Christopher and Aisha: He wants to leave his past behind, but there's obviously something juicy back there and Aisha wants the inside scoop.
Claire and Aaron: Still related.
Zoey and Lucas: She's a selfish jerk, he has to work all summer to support his family.
Kate and Jake: She's whiny and needy, he foolishly confides this in Lara.
Lucas's dad dies and Zoey gets invited to a writer's conference in Washington.
Bleurgh. Sort of eventful, and at the same time boring. So much drama to come, and they're wasting time on Benjamin doesn't want to watch movies with Nina? GAH.
Fave bits:
-"It's that feeling," [Nina] explained "of being coerced into having fun. I start immediately not having fun. Carnivals are like keg parties or parades or New Year's Eve-people look at you like you're the biggest loser if you're not having the best night of your life. It's like they're not happy unless you're doing cartwheels down the street."
Lies:
-Jake's dad apologises to him for not being totally supportive about Jake being in AA. The whole thing was Jake's dad's idea and he's supported him the whole way!
-Lucas and Zoey are "lying in a sandy cove on the beach. It was the beach where they'd first kissed." NO. Their first proper kiss was on a bluff in Weymouth, and even before that Zoey kissed Lucas on the dock before he was shipped off to juvie.
-It says Lucas's mum comforted Jake's mum when Wade died. This seems unlikely as at the time, everyone thought Lucas was the one driving in the accident that killed Wade, so I don't think Mrs McRoyan would want Lucas's mum hanging around.
All the Chatham Island couples are on the rocks:
Nina and Benjamin: He doesn't want to be a couch potato, she does.
Christopher and Aisha: He wants to leave his past behind, but there's obviously something juicy back there and Aisha wants the inside scoop.
Claire and Aaron: Still related.
Zoey and Lucas: She's a selfish jerk, he has to work all summer to support his family.
Kate and Jake: She's whiny and needy, he foolishly confides this in Lara.
Lucas's dad dies and Zoey gets invited to a writer's conference in Washington.
Bleurgh. Sort of eventful, and at the same time boring. So much drama to come, and they're wasting time on Benjamin doesn't want to watch movies with Nina? GAH.
Fave bits:
-"It's that feeling," [Nina] explained "of being coerced into having fun. I start immediately not having fun. Carnivals are like keg parties or parades or New Year's Eve-people look at you like you're the biggest loser if you're not having the best night of your life. It's like they're not happy unless you're doing cartwheels down the street."
Lies:
-Jake's dad apologises to him for not being totally supportive about Jake being in AA. The whole thing was Jake's dad's idea and he's supported him the whole way!
-Lucas and Zoey are "lying in a sandy cove on the beach. It was the beach where they'd first kissed." NO. Their first proper kiss was on a bluff in Weymouth, and even before that Zoey kissed Lucas on the dock before he was shipped off to juvie.
-It says Lucas's mum comforted Jake's mum when Wade died. This seems unlikely as at the time, everyone thought Lucas was the one driving in the accident that killed Wade, so I don't think Mrs McRoyan would want Lucas's mum hanging around.
May 11, 2020
An improvement on the previous installment.
Lucas is acting like a jerk because of his fear of losing Zoey but will this fear be the one thing that pushes her away?
Benjamin is acting like a jerk because after regaining his eyesight he seems to have forgotten everyone else's needs, especially Nina's, for his own. Can he find a balance between his old life and his new.
Christopher is still hiding his past from Aisha. Aaron has yet to stand up for Claire. Kate is having mental health issues but are they too much for Jake?
Meanwhile Lara is back and playing troublemaker for all the couples.
When tragedy strikes everything could change their lives forever?
Lucas is acting like a jerk because of his fear of losing Zoey but will this fear be the one thing that pushes her away?
Benjamin is acting like a jerk because after regaining his eyesight he seems to have forgotten everyone else's needs, especially Nina's, for his own. Can he find a balance between his old life and his new.
Christopher is still hiding his past from Aisha. Aaron has yet to stand up for Claire. Kate is having mental health issues but are they too much for Jake?
Meanwhile Lara is back and playing troublemaker for all the couples.
When tragedy strikes everything could change their lives forever?
Read
February 6, 2017I must say that Lara made quite a big impression on me in this book.
This book is particularly dramatic, I found that the writing was acute with grief, sadness and all the emotions you go through when you are experiencing a loss.
This book is particularly dramatic, I found that the writing was acute with grief, sadness and all the emotions you go through when you are experiencing a loss.
March 30, 2024
Das fand ich wieder ganz gut. Auch wenn vieles unnöitg war. Gerade auch Zoeys Verhalten fand ich sehr kindisch. Sie hätte wenigstens die Briefe lesen können. Laras Wandlung hat mir ganz gut gefallen. Ebenso Claires. Aber es war eines der besseren Bücher.
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.
September 18, 2023
The moment between Claire and Nina was actually nice. Benjamin is really getting on my nerves and Christopher is still the absolute worst
February 16, 2026
I am screaming at all the ridiculous inconsistencies in the storyline and yet with death they touched upon another important topic. And btw, I really wanna hit Benjamin for being such a jerk.
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 - 14 of 14 reviews