Red Girl, Blue Boy

August 1, 2015
The daughter of the male Republican candidate for president of the United States and the son of the female Democratic candidate wind up in an unlikely romance. Both 16, Katie and Drew seem complete opposites. She's so consumed with political fervor that she's never even had a friend her own age, much less a boyfriend, and sees herself as the best possible campaign manager for her father. Drew, on the other hand, can't be bothered to dress in a suit for his mother's nomination at the Democratic convention and wants nothing to do with his mom's campaign. Nevertheless, the two have met before as small children, and Drew has always been attracted to Katie. A joint appearance on a TV morning show leads to romantic sparks. But when a campaign smear comes to light, one blames the other for leaking it. Can the two get back together, and how will the competing parents react? Baratz-Logsted keeps the proceedings light and humorous. Most of the fun arises from her characterization of Katie, who easily dominates the book despite the shared, alternating narration. She's a complete political nerd and proud of it, while Drew seems merely a typical let-me-alone adolescent boy. Despite the premise, the book feels free of ideology, and readers do not have to have any interest in politics at all to enjoy it. Breezy and fresh-feeling fun. (Romance. 12-18)

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September 15, 2015
Grades 7-10 Katie is an ambitious, driven teenager who loves everything about her father's presidential campaign and has even picked out china patterns for the White House. Although Drew's mother is running for president, he still rides the bus to high school and wants nothing to do with interviews and public appearances. After meeting at a disastrous talk-show interview, Katie and Drew are drawn to each otherKatie to Drew's sense of freedom, and Drew to Katie's passion. When the press finds out about Drew's father's extramarital affair, the blossoming relationship is cut short, until their parents agree that the teens should date in hopes of boosting poll numbers. Now, Katie and Drew have to fake a relationship in front of the entire country. Can they hold out until Election Day? Though Katie's naivete may be jarring and the conflict comes a bit too late in the book, overall, teens looking for an easy, modern romance will find this fun, lighthearted teen love story charming.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)