The Ruby Oliver quarter should be required reading for teenage girls. Not for school--though, don't get me wrong, it's well-written and has a unique voice that's entirely Ruby's. (I laughed out loud several times over the course of this one, as I did while reading all three prequels.) No: this series is important because Lockhart really doesn't pull any punches when it comes to teen life.

But it's all so funny and refreshing that things like marital strife and Ruby's school torment don't interrupt the book's light tone. You take them in stride, like Ruby. That's not to say that Ruby is particularly great at handling her issues. She's continuously troubled by anxiety, an problem I'm very familiar with (and trust me, Lockhart's good at depicting realistic teen anxiety).

In her final chapter we see Ruby still struggling with all of her boyfriend/friend/parental problems. I know that it seems like she hasn't learned much--but she's a teenager! And it's great to see an author go for something that is by no means a totally closed conclusion. Ruby's always going to have her obstacles, just like any other girl.

Yet there's still a tremendous sense of growth with this girl--and you know, I feel like I and the rest of her readership have grown with her. Ruby's probably the most relatable protagonist I've ever read about, that's an accomplishment in itself.