Scarlett Fever

Scarlett Fever


By: Maureen Johnson
Reviewed by: Tahrima, 13
Rating: Really liked it


Life just can’t get any more interesting. Or can it? Between the breakup with Eric, working --- no, “slaving” is the right word --- for the tyrant Mrs. Amberson, trying to help out at the hotel and just keeping her 15-year-old life together, Scarlett Martin has no time for brooding. Of course, she does manage to brood because you can’t be a teenager and not brood. What would that be like?

Scarlett’s mom and dad run an ancient hotel in New York, the Hopewell, where you risk everything just taking a shower. She and her three siblings do what they can to assist their parents. Unfortunately, all of them lead very busy, dramatic lives. Her little sister Marlene is recovering from cancer and belongs to a kid survivor group. Older sister Lola is sort of between high school and college, so she is actually helping a lot around the hotel. Big brother Spencer, on the other hand, is constantly auditioning and working the theater scene. Scarlett just wants to go to school, get through the day and figure out how she can get Eric back. The subject of money is also on her mind. Where would it come from, and why do all of her friends have it and she doesn’t?

Things do pick up when Spenser lands a great role in a soap opera. But unexpected complications pop up when his character kills off one of the main characters and he becomes the most hated guy in the world. There are even people stalking him. Lola begins acting a little strange, too. She has this thing for the wealthy but nerdy Chip Sutcliff. Chip is just so not like any of them, but there is definitely something going on. Lola is Marlene’s main buddy; she has supported her and done the real big sister thing through the whole cancer experience. Now Marlene is growing up and getting a little demanding, and Lola seems totally distracted. Is it just Chip?

Mrs. Amberson has now asked Scarlett to sort of “baby-sit” one of her client’s brothers. His name is Max and he’s in Scarlett’s biology class. She can’t stand the guy the minute she lays eyes on him and definitely has other things she’d rather do. Even walking Murray, the fear-filled dog of Mrs. Amberson’s friend, is better than dealing with Max.

Scarlett does have a best friend named Dakota. Although Dakota is totally rolling in money, they have good times together. While she thinks about the Eric situation, Dakota encourages her to move on, to just get over him. Reality is what she needs but definitely not what she wants.

One day while Scarlett is working at the hotel desk, Eric --- the long-lost, most handsome guy in the world --- walks in. Not only has he come to see her, he actually asks her for advice. At last, something cool is happening. Could this possibly mean what she wants it to mean?


Recommended to: teens, drama