Product Description

Julie Braverman is the coolest person Julie Prodsky has ever met. During their freshman year at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, the previously unexplored world of flirting, freedom, and fashion is revealed to Julie P. through the eyes of her new best friend. Learning the secret to Julie B.'s collection of Fiorucci jeans-shoplifting-only makes Julie P. admire her more. Before long, Julie P. has her own closet full of stolen clothing, and a new boyfriend, all thanks to Julie B. Then Julie P.'s conscience catches up with her. She wants to stop shoplifting, but Julie B. doesn't. Without stealing, can this friendship survive?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1965821 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-07
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.06" h x 6.04" w x 8.48" l, .86 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 8-10-Julie Prodsky, a freshman at the High School of the Performing Arts in New York City, makes fast friends with Julie Braverman, a popular girl with an impressive designer wardrobe. Soon Julie B. teaches her the essentials of shoplifting and the pals begin getting at stores throughout the city. Julie P. is delighted with her new friend, although her conscience begins troubling her. Caught by a security officer at Bloomingdale's and let go with a slap on the wrist, she seeks the help of a therapist. The girls part ways when Julie P. refuses to go on a shopping trip with Julie B. When they reconcile, Julie P. learns that her friend was apprehended at another store and is now trying to reform. Set in the '80s, the book is mainly about shoplifting to fit in with peers but also deals with first love and family dynamics. Sadly, parents in the book are mostly oblivious to their daughters' acquisitions. The sprinkling of swear words does not add to the story and some characters are less memorable than the lists of designer clothing mentioned each time the Julies go shopping. There are plenty of how-to ideas about shoplifting, but one hopes that readers would not act on them.-Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 8-11. The subtitle says it all. In her debut novel, Pollack has wrapped three juicy, sure-to-appeal elements into an appealing package, complete with a pink, ultrafeminine cover. It's the early 1980s, and Julie Prodsky, a native New Yorker, is a freshman at the famed High School of the Performing Arts. On her first day, she meets very cool, very friendly Julie Braverman, who introduces her to the fine points of "getting" (shoplifting). Soon, the girls' closets are full of purloined goods. Then Julie P. suffers pangs of remorse and goes to a therapist to help her deal with her kleptomania, which triggers a blowup with Julie B. First love comes in the form of a handsome junior, who, predictably, does narrator Julie P. wrong. The rather formulaic story is firmly anchored by references to the popular culture of the time, including lengthy descriptions of clothes, but readers won't be deterred by the firm sense of style or place as the plot is nearly irresistible. Debbie Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Jenny Pollack grew up in New York City and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts and Barnard College. Back in the 80's she got from Fiorucci, Macy's, Sak's, Bloomingdale's, Betsey Johnson, Patricia Fields, Reminiscence, Aca Joe, Parachute and who knows where else. She hasn't gotten anything since then. She is still best friends with her best friend. Jenny lives in Brooklyn with her husband Rob and son Charlie and their two cats, Mike and Harry. Klepto is her first novel.