WHY DO I KEEP GETTING SUCH WEIRD AND BAD BOOKS T_T I JUST WANT TO READ ONE BOOK THAT'S GOOOOOD.

Too much distractions in the plot, too little focus on the main romance and other relationships :(

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I admit, it was a negative review that led me to purchase THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME, the debut contemporary YA novel by Madeleine George. Someone (I forget who) referred to it as too realistic in its portrayal of a high school relationship. Too realistic?! Well, that sold me, even if the person did only give it one or two stars. Besides, it met some other characteristics I love in a novel – diversity (it follows a lesbian main character), a quirky premise, and a liberal bias. Hey, what can I say? I dislike Walmart (but shop there because it sadly ran everyone else out).

LIES, BETRAYAL, AND SECRET KISSES

Following two girls – one an out and proud lesbian, the other a closeted girl hiding behind her boyfriend – who engage in weekly make-out secret sessions at a local library, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME is definitely not going to be for everyone. For one, yes, it is rather liberal. For another, it is about a GLBT relationship. And finally, it is told in a rather strange narrative style – third person present for our heroine, and first person present for the two girls in her life.

No, I wouldn’t call this a love triangle, so don’t worry about that.

I liked this one because of its honesty and quirkiness. There is not instant happiness. There is lust, there are demands and pressures, there are lies, there are attempts at meaningful discussion instead turned into arguments. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME is indeed very realistic in how it portrays a teenage romance. There are butterflies in stomachs and kisses, but there are also plenty of hurt feelings, lies, betrayals, and sad moments.

HOW REAL CAN YOUNG ADULT FICTION GET?

The way that George writes the story I found to be odd, but at the same time, and partly due to its short length, the narrative pulled me along. I wanted to know more about Jesse and her life and her family that seemed kind of like mine (minus the breast cancer). I wanted to know more about the girls in her life – her girly secret girlfriend Emily and her new accidental friend Esther, especially as we delve into their lives. Even though Emily and Esther are both given chapters of their own focusing on their narratives, this is indeed Jesse’s story through and through. She is our main character, our focus, and our heroine in the battle of girl versus world.

One issue I did have a rather large problem with, though, was Emily, also known as the clone of Tracy Flick from the book/movie ELECTION. You know, the one played by Reese Witherspoon like 15 years ago.



From her interests to her goals to her personality and beyond, Emily is Tracy Flick, except with a lesbian lover once a week on Tuesday afternoons.

Jesse, though, I loved. She is strong-willed and determined, especially once she meets Esther and begins to see the world outside her bubble. The book defines her first as a lesbian, but at her core she is just a girl who wants to stand up for herself and be allowed to be who she is – strange, quirky, rebellious, and eager.

But to tell you how this book is realistic would spoil it. Even though I probably already have if you’re deductive and note that I keep saying it’s realistic. Damn.

Would I recommend THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME? Probably, with exceptions. If you don’t mind a liberal agenda, then definitely read this. If you don’t mind strange storytelling, then go ahead. If you are conservative and don’t like GLBT stories, ehm… Skip it. But I really did enjoy what George gave us in her debut, and I can’t wait to read more by her in the hopeful near future.

VERDICT: Even though the chosen writing style isn’t the easiest to navigate, and the secondary character/love interest is annoying, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME is honest and refreshing and warming. Recommended with a few reservations.

I loved it, until the very end. I was hoping Jesse and Emily would be able to work things out, despite their differing political ideologies. I was hoping Emily would ask for help and slowly become less high strung and anxious and learn to be happy, but instead she got a slightly depressing, underdeveloped ending and we, the readers, got a mediocre ending that felt incomplete.

Girl meets girl, but Jesse is "out" and her crush, Emily, requires they only meet secretly. Between that, Emily's boyfriend, and Emily's politics it seems like a match doomed to fail, but their chemistry is so intense.

The story is told in alternating viewpoints; Emily speaks to us directly in first person, while Jesse and her friend Esther's sections are in third person. Jesse is clearly our main character and we're most sympathetic toward her. I think the author chose to have Emily's section told in first person because her personality is less endearing. We need to hear her thoughts to understand her better.

In any case, all three teens have an interesting back story and complex issues to handle. I enjoyed spending time with them.

I think the title of this story really means what it says. Each of these characters is based on a stereotype, but they are made more human by our knowing them.
Jesse has been out since the end of middle school and has the support of her activist parents. Emily is corporate America material and keeps a tight lid on anything that may negatively affect her standing in the school community, especially her feelings for Jesse. The story is told in alternating chapters, third person for Jesse, and first person for Emily. The girls have opposing political viewpoints and real power imbalance in their relationship.
The plot revolves around Emily's ambition and a Walmart type corporation trying to gain a foothold in their town. The citizens have already decided they don't want a big box store, and everything that entails, but the chain is relentless. Emily gets them to sponsor the school's fall formal and Jesse spearheads a protest to raise awareness.
Jesse makes a new friend, Esther who is also an activist (with a "thing" for Joan of Arc).
Some story threads seem to go nowhere and characters seem one dimensional, but the story was entertaining and contains much to discuss, politically and sexually.

I read a review of this book way back in May and forgot about it with all the excitement of Summer Reading Club. But last week when I saw it on a truck of new books, I had to snag it! The story is total “girl power” and told in opposing viewpoints: mainly Jesse and Emily. Jesse cuts her own hair with her Swiss army knife, wears green rubber fishing boots, and is making a statement by posting her manifestos all over the school. Her group-The National Organization to
Liberate All Weirdos-consists of her, but she’s certain it will change the world. She doesn’t care that she’s been an outsider since her best friend Wyatt left to be homeschooled. Jesse knows
she’s unique. But then, there is Emily: beautiful, feminine, pink, jock boyfriend, vice-president of
the student council. Like a model on a poster at the GAP. I picture her a lot like Molly Ringwald
in “The Breakfast Club.”

Obviously, they have nothing in common, yet have a standing appointment for a secret romantic meeting every Tuesday on the 3rd floor at the library. Other than that, their paths usually don’t cross. But when the newest big box superstore wants to move into their town, Emily and Jesse find themselves at opposite ends of the spectrum.

If I had to choose a theme of the book, it would be secrets. What secrets do you keep? Which secrets do you keep so deeply hidden, you won't even admit them to yourself? Emily and Jesse are forced to hold a mirror up and see what is really there.

I’m completely over YS book covers with shoes and feet. Is this really the best interpretation of the book? It’s an unattractive color with boring shoes. I find the other cover with a photograph even worse. Emily's feet are on tiptoes next to Jesse's boots, but I don't think they are different heights. It seems like an attempt to trick the reader into thinking it's about a straight couple.

In the back of the book, there are books, movies and websites that tell the reader where to learn more about the issues in the book. The author has plenty of resources on her website for ways to get involved and make positive social change. I would recommend “The Difference Between You and Me” for readers in high school or older, fans of David Leviathan, E. Lockhart or Maureen Johnson, and anyone who enjoys LBGTQ literature.

Beautiful, straight forward, heart wrenching. All great words to describe this novel.

Highly recommended GLBTQ book for teens.

3.5 stars

The first- to third-person switches were a little clunky, but otherwise hilarious and made me feel a lot.