Bradley, Alex. 24 girls in 7 days

Kliatt, Jan, 2005 by Paula Rohrlick

BRADLEY, Alex. 24 girls in 7 days. Penguin, Dutton. 272p. c2005. 0-525-47369-6. $15.99. S

Jack hasn't got a date for the senior prom, and without his knowledge his two best friends post a personal ad soliciting one for him in the online school newsletter. What began as a joke surprisingly gets a flood of responses. Now Jack's task is to sift through the e-mails and somehow schedule 24 dates before the prom, just seven days away, in order to find the girl he wants to invite. The adventures of a funny but somewhat geeky guy in date-land make for amusing light reading, featuring witty dialog and e-mails, some suspense, and a sympathetic protagonist. Jack is a true gentleman (kissing is about all that takes place), and the ending is satisfying. The intriguing title is sure to attract many readers to this assured first novel, set in Iowa City, and they will quickly be drawn into Jack's entertaining plight. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT

S--Recommended for senior high school students.