| Savvy Girl | 
 enlarge | Author: Lynn Messina
Publisher: Harcourt Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $7.95
Buy New: $3.17
You Save: $4.78 (60%)
New (36) Used (9) from $3.17
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 593364
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.8 x 0.8
ISBN: 0152061614
EAN: 9780152061616
ASIN: 0152061614
Publication Date: August 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Paperback, brand new, no marks.
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Product Description
Seventeen-year-old Chrissy Gibbons has landed her dream job—a summer internship at her favorite magazine, Savvy. Being an intern is hard work, but the job becomes a lot more fun when Chrissy is befriended by a glamorous fashion editor who takes her to all the best parties. As the summer winds down, though, Chrissy realizes that in the whirlwind of parties and boys, she’s been neglecting what could be her big break in the magazine business: an opportunity to compete against other interns to become Savvy’s first teen columnist. Chrissy struggles to come up with a winning subject for her column—and in the process, she discovers what is most important to her.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 I really wanted to like this book November 8, 2008
This type of YA is usually a fun, fun read.
Chrissy is 17 and managed to snag an internship at Savvy magazine - she also gets the opportunity of submitting an essay that will give her the chance of becoming a Savvy columnist for a year.
The premise sounds great! I was all ready to loooooveee this book. Except that there is so much wrong with the storyline that I don't really know where to start.
First off, Chrissy was chosen among her other high school mates for this internship - presumably because she was bright and interested in developing her future skills (not to mention a great internship mark up on her cv) - yet, the author insists on portraying Chrissy as immature, clueless and completely self-absorbed (yes, I know I have just basically described most teenagers - but I was under the impression that Chrissy was a tad above all of this considering the prestigious internship she was handed). I mean, this girl is completely clueless...instead of actually learning and absorbing all that she can from her internship, she spends her days daydreaming about the cad (yes, you knew there had to be one) and basically flittering away a beautiful opportunity to learn from some of the "best" in the fashion world.
Also, the whole supermodel Jessica inviting lowly intern Chrissy to all these high-brow functions (hey Jessica did you know that Chrissy is not even supposed to be drinking since she is 17?????)is totally incredible and I did not buy it for a minute.
I was also pretty horrified by the fact that this 17 year old walks around New York City at 2:00 a.m. - drunk as a skunk with her shoes in her hands - looking for the subway platform - this was extremely creepy to me.
Finally, for those hoping to get a glimpse of what it is like to work at a fashion magazine - don't buy this book. There is a minimal amount of work being done by anyone at this fashion magazine AND the author barely mentions it at all. It is obvious that the "magazine" setting is just a set up for the storyline and is totally irrelevant to the whole thing.
Also, I cringe at all the perfect opportunities Chrissy has (the Savvy Girl column for example) and insists on blowing off - I think Chrissy needs to go back to high school for a couple of years and GROW UP!!! or stop trying to play with the grown ups and stick with being a teenager! I don't care which you choose - just pick up and stop being so clueless!
As you can read, I had many, many issues with this book.
 The Story Siren Reviews: November 2, 2008
Savvy was light, fun and fast. This was a feel good novel that was more about discovering yourself than working at a magazine.
With that said, there were a few things that did bother me. Jessica, the fashion editor, takes Chrissy under her wing, because she reminds her of her sister, which was very sweet and endearing. Jessica was also a model and when Chrissy asked her why she quit to become a fashion editor, she tells her this very touching story of how her sister was turning into someone else, struggling with her weight, smoking, etc. because she wanted to be like Jessica. Awww, what a great big sister. So, why would she take underage Chrissy to these lavish parties and let her get drunk and then not even make sure she gets home okay? Didn't really fit the character profile I got from the model turned fashion editor to save her sister insight??!
Then two words. Michael Davies. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me! Come on, how many times does Chrissy have to run into this guy ogling model's boobies before she realizes he is a jerk! I know having a crush and over looking flaws is completely normal behavior, but come on, seriously.
I also would have liked to gotten to know Chrissy's friend Lily and the obvious romantic choice Graham, better. They just sort of skirted the outside of the storyline and didn't really come into play until the end.
However, I did enjoy Messina's writing style and think that the lesson portrayed in the novel is important. I'm looking forward to reading more of her YA novels in the future. Sometimes light, fun and fast is just what I'm looking for!
 Made Me Miss My Butterfly Boy Days October 26, 2008
I have enjoyed every single book by Lynn Messina, so I counted down the days until this one came out. Ironically it took me forever to read the book once I bought it and strangely, I didn't like it at first.
Cons: The first 31 pages were slow, but I refused to give up because again, I've liked every Messina book I've read. When I got to "Fatal Crush or Hunger Pangs," I remembered why I really like this author. She has a dry wit and the dialogue is dead on for the characters. But it seemed like this chapter was the one when Chrissy Gibbons, the 17-year-old New Yorker intern who is working for a well-known fashion magazine trying to become a columnist, becomes more down to Earth.
Chrissy starts off as this sort of valley girl character who says "so" before everything as though it's an adjective. It was annoying, however, I know girls who speak this way so I tolerated it. When Chrissy started cursing and talking about hip hop, it threw me off because it didn't really fit with the character at the opening of the book. I can't imagine this young lady listening to hip hop or spouting off vulgarity. So I was a little skeptical of this character's personality.
My only other con is that Chrissy was doing way too much drinking for a seventeen year old. If this was a backyard garage party, I could see it. But her parents were way too easy on her (and parents can always tell when their child is drunk, especially Chrissy's attentive parents). Not one bartender questioned her age, and that seemed very strange even for an exclusive party considering Chrissy was not described as a mature-looking woman.
Pros: As soon as Michael Davies came into the picture, her teenage awkwardness and schoolgirl crush set in. That's when she started reminding me of a real teenager. I thought Lily, Chrissy's best friend who is slightly spoiled and has parents going through a divorce, was completely believable throughout the read. Messina took readers on an easy-to-read tale of a teenager who has gotten in over her head hanging out with the head honchos in the fashion and magazine industry--attending exclusive parties, drinking, looking for gorgeous boys, irritating her parents, and making her outside friendships fragile. All of this is very much common while growing up, just this time it was with a fashion magazine.
Back to the topic of drinking (con above), Messina described Chrissy as very atypical, but after the explanation of her mentor (Lois') background, it made sense that Lois wouldn't pay attention or care about this.
Anyway, once the parties started, the book picked up. But the confusion on the very first train ride was what made me know I was going to love this book, and I did, especially the ending.
Chrissy has to make a lot of judgment calls in her savvy life October 16, 2008
Chrissy is living large, that is, for a 17 year old. How fabulous to have a summer journalism internship at "Savvy Magazine." Rubbing shoulders with gorgeous models, high-profile industry icons, movie stars, and good-looking guys, is a dream come true for Chrissy.
Although best friend Lucy is so supportive and loves to hear about Chrissy's cool journalism internship in the big Apple, New York, at the same time she is also upset about her parent's divorce.
Chrissy finds it difficult to stay focused on her friend's personal problems because she is so caught up in her glamorous experiences at and for "Savvy Magazine."
Befriended by, Jessica, a famous model turned magazine executive, Chrissy puts aside friends and family for glitz and glamour. Chrissy lets the late-night parties, drinking, and flirting with a handsome hunk, Michael Davies, derail her from her personal and family values.
To top it all off each of the four interns, Chrissy included, are given the awesome opportunity to have their own monthly magazine column. But first, they must write a killer story to win over the magazine editor.
Does Chrissy get past her own need to party and hang with the rich and famous? Does her late-night partying cause challenges with her parents at home? Does she abandon her best friend Lucy? Does she write the knock-out story or lose her opportunity because of her own selfishness? Chrissy's journey and life lessons may surprise you.
Armchair Interview says: Enjoy!
The Compulsive Reader's Reviews August 31, 2008
Chrissy Gibbons plans on making it big, and has the perfect summer job to get her there: an internship at Savvy magazine, and a shot at becoming their first ever Savvy Girl columnist. Chrissy is ready to buckle down and endure some hard work, but is shocked and delighted when the legendary fashion editor and former model Jessica Cordero befriends her and invites her to all of the coolest parties. Caught up in the high of glamorous living, Chrissy begins to take risks to get what she wants--ones that could jeopardize her dreams, and alienate her friends.
Savvy Girl is a fresh and fun take on the magazine world that will delight girls seeking a light summer read that speaks to their aspirations and their way of life. Chrissy's world is one that many teen girls can relate to...one on the cusp of independence that's fraught with relationship and college preparation woes, the thrill of freedom, along with edgier elements of underage drinking.
While the idea of a fashion editor befriending a lowly intern is something that hasn't been explored very often, and offers a new and fun edge to the plot, all of the trademark elements of such books in this genre are present: the abandonment of friends, the fast paced routine, the inevitable crash and burn, and then the phoenix-like comeback. It makes the book a little predictable, but Messina has created Chrissy in such a way that girls won't but help love her despite the cliche. Savvy Girl is humorous and clever, and offers a message that between its covers that doesn't hurt to be repeated.
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