Prom

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Andersen - Westbrook High School, Westbrook, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 11, 2018

Review

Rutledge starts her story in the nineteenth century when proms were only for the upper-class and she overviews how they became a staple of the average high school experience. The author sets the history of proms and fashion into historical context: the Roaring Twenties, The Great Depression, Vietnam, and segregation. Rutledge brings the prom to present day looking at costs, Duct tape prom outfits, and social media. She also addresses the struggles LBGTQ students have historically had in terms of clothing options and date choices. The back of the book includes source notes, resources for further information, and information about support groups to help students make good choices on prom night. It is hard to determine the audience for this book. It seems targeted to a middle school audience, but prom is high school event. Tweens always want to know what is coming next, so it would be best for middle school collections.

Overall Book Score: good