Cathy's Book

Book: Cathy's Book
Author: Jordan Weisman
Year Published: 2006
My Rating: 2/5
Recommended For: 13-16 years of age.

Short Summary: This follows Cathy's story as she discovers the truth about her-ex boyfriend and what the strange mark on her arm means.

My Review (Some Spoilers)
The thing that really got me into the book was when I opened the cover at the library, inside was a bag with many different objects in it. It's the closest to 3D books can get...you know besides pop-up books. It's pretty interactive with actual phone numbers the reader can call, many objects that look (and even feel!) realistic and the illusion of the book actually being someone's sketchbook. The idea of it is pretty genius, because you actually feel as if you are a part of the novel. However I found myself getting annoyed with a few parts of the book...
First of all the product placement in this book can be pretty tedious. Especially since they really don't have much to do with the book. In the object bag there is a business card for Being Girl. Which is pretty well for tampons and such...like Tampax? The author put a small sketch on the back of it so it looks related but it's still a little random is it not? The website of it really doesn't have anything to do with the book. So we all know where that came from. Also there was obviously some help from our good friends at Covergirl. In her sketches she often labels her sketches of girls pointing to parts of her face and then says the brand and exact colour of the make up. And then there is a small little piece of paper in the bag of objects which has little smears of different shades of make up and they're labeled! Oh and by the way...they are all from Covergirl.
As for the actual story, I could hardly keep on reading it. I found the story to be a bit dry, and it wasn't my cup of tea. I just found myself get very annoyed with it easily, and I couldn't connect with the main character so it just wasn't working for me.
The whole entire idea of the book though was great, that is why I gave it the extra star. I wish more books were like this but you know with a story line that doesn't get on my nerves.