Title: Ten Things We Did (and probably shouldn’t have)
Author: Sarah Mlynowski [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Paperback
Source: Provided by publisher (via Amazon Vine)
Parental Advisory: sex, alcohol, criminal activity, language, infidelity, STD
Teachable Moments: safe sex, responsibility

“In a way I felt bad for her.  It must be hell to be so obviously and publicly in love with someone else’s boyfriend for all of high school.  Not bad enough for me to hand him over.  Sorry, Cor.  Keep licking those lips.”

Summary (from the publisher):
Two girls + three guys + one house – parents = ten things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn’t have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free?  Although maybe “opportunity” isn’t the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: “Lied to Our Parents”).  But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves.  How they ended up “Skipping School” (#3), “Throwing a Crazy Party” (#8), “Buying a Hot Tub” (#4), and, um, “Harboring a Fugitive” (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

Opinion:
Fun, snarky, and entertaining are all words I’d used to describe Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have), but don’t be fooled underneath the wit and humor there are also some serious messages about safe sex, abstinence, loyalty, friendship and honesty.  This makes Ten Things the perfect book to teach young girls and boys about important topics without them necessarily realizing it or making it all preachy-like.

I admit, I don’t believe the over-arching situation these teens were in was *all* that realistic — April convinces her father to let her live with her BFF’s family yet the BFF’s mother is away.  I don’t believe any parent, even the most flighty of them, would allow their teenaged daughter to live at home alone while traveling the country acting in a play.  Furthermore, I can’t really completely believe that April was able to con her father into believing the mother would be present at all times.  Even with the technological elements used to do so I know most parents would insist on seeing the parent providing long-term care to their child in person prior to departure.  At any rate, I was fine with suspending belief in this case because I knew the story was going to be fun and in some capacities treated a bit cheekily.

I was right, these kids didn’t take themselves too seriously.  They put themselves in the typical home alone situations (renting a hot tub, having parties, etc) but also treated the home they lived in with a modicum of respect and didn’t do too much damage to possessions or people.  At least not in the physical sense anyway.

So, the story follows April as she and her BFF and all their friends enjoy the spoils of a parent-free environment.  But, I’m glad to say, that Ten Things is not just one big hot tub party (though there are plenty of those) it’s got a message about self-esteem, safe sex and responsibility.  You see, April has been saving herself for her boyfriend Noah and now after a year of coupledom and waiting for the right time they have the perfect place and just the right lack of supervision.  Problem is, despite the circumstances April can’t seem to make it happen for them.  The story progresses with a bit of “should we or shouldn’t we” and “can we or can’t we” scenarios.   There are definite twists and turns to the relationship that revolve around other issues besides sex as well.  Their dynamic is one of love but also one that speaks a great deal to trust. Theirs isn’t the only relationship explored either.  Her best friend Vi is struggling with trust issues of her own.  Having been raised by a free spirited mother her faith in long-lasting and loving relationships is not at an all time high.  Further both girls navigate difficulty in their friendships and how they interact with their respective parental units.

Though there is humor and wit there is definitely substance here as well.   Ten Things We Did brought the fun but it also managed to send a clear and straight-forward message to readers using a real and relatable voice that readers will connect with.