Anna and the French Kiss

Perkins, S. (2010). Anna and the French kiss. New York: Penguin Group.

Book Summary

Anna, a young American girl, is off to school in Paris, France for her senior year of high school.  While you would think that any teen girl would love to spend a year in the city of love, Anna does not want to go. She’s got good friends, a fun job, and a budding crush back home in America. The book chronicles Anna’s year as she meets new friends, gets over her fear of France, and falls in love. In Anna’s new group of friends is Etienne St. Clair. With his British accent and stunning good looks, Anna is smitten. Unfortunately, he’s got a long-time girlfriend. And Anna has a crush in the USA that she’s not ready to give up on. But as St. Clair and Anna get to know each other and experience the city of love, it’s almost impossible for them not to fall under its spell.

Impression

This was a fun teen romance. In addition to the romance, you also saw Anna grow and mature as she lived away from home. When you’re young and have expectations for how your life is going to go, it’s rough to have that change, even if it’s a dream come true—a year in Paris. But even though it’s Paris, Anna is alone. Teens can relate to her feelings as she struggles to figure out her place in her new school and country. The romance develops throughout the book and the reader gets to know both St. Clair and Anna as they learn about each other. This book would be popular for most female teens 14-17.

Professional Review

“Anna Oliphant has big plans for her senior year in Atlanta: hang out with her best friend, Bridgette, and flirt with her coworker at the Royal Midtown 14 multiplex. So she is none too happy when her father sends her off to boarding school in Paris. However, things begin to look up when she meets Etienne St. Clair, a gorgeous guy-with a girlfriend. As he and Anna become closer friends, things get infinitely more complicated. Will Anna get her French kiss? Or are some things just not meant to be? Perkins has written a delightful debut novel with refreshingly witty characters. There is strong language and mention of sexual topics that make the book more appropriate for older teens. The chapters are concise, and the steady pacing leading up to the "will they or won't they?" moments will capture even reluctant readers. Teens will feel like they are strolling through the City of Lights in this starry-eyed story of finding love when you least expect it.”

Castle, K. (2010).  School Library Journal.

Library Uses

This would be a great book to book talk for teens. There isn’t objectionable material in the book and it’s a quick read with lots of fun stories and relatable emotions for teenagers.  If you had an all-girl book club, it would also be a run read for that, however, I don’t think many male readers would enjoy the story.