HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: Once upon a Kiss
Author: Susan Mendonca
Publisher: Scholastic, 1985
ISBN-13: 978-0590332675
ISBN-10: 0590332678
Language level: 3
(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)
Recommended reading level: 16 and up
Rating: **** 4 stars
(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)
Category: Romance
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
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Mendonca,Susan. Once upon a Kiss (Published in 1985 by Wildfire Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 730 Broadway, New York City, NY 10003). Paula Rizzoni, a senior at Beecher High School, lives with her parents, older sister Regina (Reggie), and younger sister Meg. Her best friend is Laurie Wellington, whose boyfriend Don recently moved away to California and started seeing someone else. Her own former boyfriend, the popular Ricky Castle, dumped her for Carla Brent. Paula plans to go to the New Year’s Eve costume party as Snow White and Laurie as Cinderella, but Laurie gets sick and suggests that Paula go as Cinderella to confuse the others. At the party, Paula is kissed by popular Kevin Stevens, dressed as Prince Charming. She feels attracted to Kevin but fears that his popularity will result in another situation like that with Ricky, so to keep from being hurt again, she runs away from the party, tries to convince Kevin that Laurie was Cinderella, and encourages Laurie to date Kevin.
Can Kevin ever find out who Cinderella really was? Will he and Paul be able to get together? And what happens to Laurie in the process? Once Upon a Kiss by Susan Mendonca is identified as “Wildfire #70.” Wildfire Books is apparently Scholastic’s imprint for teenage romance novels. There is really very little objectionable material. In addition to some common euphemisms (i.e., gee, darn), the name of God is used a couple of times as an exclamation. The only other thing that I have to say about the book is much emphasis is placed on common public school activities such as dancing, kissing, dating, falling in love, going steady, breaking up, etc., which many of us parents feel are not appropriate for teenagers and choose to homeschool our children to protect them from such things until they are more ready for them.