Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters
Meredith Zeitlin
Publisher:  G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: March 1, 2012
Pages: 288
Challenges: Completely Contemp Challenge, 2012 Debut Author Challenge

Rating: 4.5 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…

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin was an absolutely delightful read. I had too much fun reading it. While Kelsey and I had very different freshman years, Meredith Zeitlin really manages to capture what its like to be a teen and go through the awkward stage where you really aren’t sure about life.

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters has so much charm. There was a perfect blend of funny scenes, with the touching moments between friends. It was so much fun to follow Kelsey through her school year, as she was always getting into something. The scenes with Kelsey’s mom were too fun and some of my favorites of the book; poor Kelsey with all the ugly clothes her mom forced upon her and all the odd scenarios.

The characters completely sold this book. Kelsey was such a fab character. She was so snarky and funny, and honestly brought me right back to my freshman year. Now, we definitely had very different experiences. Kelsey lives in New York, and lives a bit more adventurous life than I did, but there was a lot of sameness, the same sameness I think so many people can connect with. I love Newspaper Guy. He was too funny. JoJo, Em, and Cassidy were a fabulous trio and you really can’t ask for better friends.

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters was a strong debut from Meredith Zeitlin and I am very curious to see what is next for her! Kelsey Finkelstein is one quirky character who had a fabulous tale to tell.