I can see why this book was and is so popular. I went to school with Josie, Sera, Lee and Ivy, too. Oh and whatsherface, the model with the broken nose, I definitely went to school with her. Sometimes Josie's voice is clunky and a little bit like an adult speaking through a young person. But I love her argumentativeness and how she can be so very wrong. I don't read a lot of YA. Well, when I was YA myself books were all just books. So I'm not sure if all YA has a 'coming of age' theme. Without the charm and reality of most of the characters, Katia and Michael particularly, I wonder if I would have enjoyed it at much.