Expecting The Unexpected: Human Interaction with Mrs. Gladys B. Furley, R.N. By Mavis Jukes

In this outrageously comic novel, Expecting the Unexpected, published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Books, Jukes delivers a lighthearted and dry view of puberty and the pains of being a young adult in today's society. For 12-year-old River, sex ed is no longer about learning "the facts of life." Now it's more or less about pregnancy, 137 different kinds of pads, and the dreadful PMS. Growing up has become extremely complicated, in between trying to cope with her ever cranky, hormone-crazed older sister, single-handedly trying to score the most points to win the "Class With Class" contest, and trying to to spark a little human interaction of her own with the oh-so-fine D.B. Yet with Jukes' enviable wit and informative voice, becoming a groan- up need not be as scary as it seems.

Anita Lal
Ages 12-14
$21.95 suggested retail price