Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Title: Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disaster
Author: Meredith Zeitlin
Release Date: March 1st, 2012
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 288
Format: Electronic Copy
Acquired: From Publisher; ARC
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course

I have to admit that this was a nice break from the supernatural, dystopia, magic, cloudy books that I've been binging on these last few weeks. Kelsey is absolutely hilarious and touches on one of the big moments in many people's lives: high school. Kels is right, normal high school in NYC does not have anonymous bloggers who reveal the secrets of everyone, sadly, but there isn't a dull moment either. Just like in Freshman Year. I found myself laughing so much, I could not possibly go to sleep, so I stayed up all night reading this book.

When Kelsey enters high school, she has big plans to make it the best year ever, which crashes one by one before her eyes.With friendships, betrayal, lost love, embarrassment, and new found friendships Kelsey's freshman year is not turning out the way she expected but somehow she marches through with a positive attitude, which I have to say that it makes her pretty cool.

Zeitlin brings to life these teens who have to go through one of the hardest stages in life, for most teenagers. While my own high school experience is still pretty fresh in my mind, it's easy to relate to these girls. And I think that this is one thing that makes Zeitlin's book interesting, is that these girl's are relatable.

Kelsey experiences in high school should remind readers of their own freshman year and all other unnatural disasters that have played a role in their lives, because whether it was good or bad, these events help shape a person for the future. Kelsey's life, while not changed to the extreme, still show the growth of this young girl and her friends.

Fun, witty, light, and humorous, this book is a read that should not be missed out on.