Nobody's Perfect. Seriously.

So you're trying to survive your day at school, grabbing a sandwich in the lunchroom or dashing down the hall to English class, and then you spot her: that perfect girl. She's probably dressed in an expertly coordinated outfit, surrounded by a group of fawning friends, and much involved in everything at school, though she never shows a flicker of stress in her eyes. She's the kind of girl that makes you wonder what's wrong with you.

Been there? I wonder if all girls have. There's always a girl who seems like she has it all -- but, as Natasha Friend's novel Perfect demonstrates, maybe she isn't who everyone thinks she is. The book's main character Isabelle is caught throwing up her lunch, and is sent to group therapy, where she's shocked to see that Perfect Girl, Ashley, from school sitting right next to her. The two of them become friends, and Isabelle quickly sees that Ashley's life is far from ideal. And Isabelle realizes that her own life maybe isn't as terrible as she thought.

Though this is a story about bulimia, it is also a story about the pain of losing a family member, the tricky game of navigating friendships and learning how to look inside and speak your heart. It plays on themes that any girl can relate to. Because, the big secret is that no one has their life together all the time. Even the girls that look like they do -- well, they could have problems at home, or a boyfriend who doesn't call, or problems with their weight.

A lot of us girls put on masks at school to make others think we're doing fine, and use certain behaviors to cope with what's going on -- and some coping strategies are way healthier than others. In the book, both Isabelle and Ashley use bingeing and purging as a way to make themselves feel better, and though the book doesn't address this, purging is incredibly dangerous to a person's health. The girls in group therapy had different problems and backgrounds, but all used food as a way to feel comfort. It just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving, and that it can be easy to dismiss someone before getting to know what really makes them tick.

My questions for you, my Mainely Girls out there, are:

• Do you know any "perfect" girls like Ashley? Did this book change your thoughts on the word "perfect?"
• Could you relate to the feelings any of the girls expressed in the book? 
• What ways, do you think, girls use to cope with the stresses of school and life? What do you think works the best? 
• What do you think will happen to Isabelle, Ashley and the other characters in the book?

Any other thoughts? I'm always interested to hear 'em! And remember: there's no right answer here. And definitely no perfect answer.

13 Little Blue Envelopes... oh, the places you'll go!

Hi girls out there,
13 Little Blue Envelopes is a story about a whirlwind, mysterious adventure one girl takes through Europe. No wonder it's one of our most-requested books!

In the book, seventeen-year-old Ginny receives letters from her aunt Peg, instructing her to travel to foreign lands and complete a series of tasks there. The rules Ginny must follow are:

• Rule #1:

You may bring only what fits in your backpack. Don't try to fake it with a purse or a carry-on.

• Rule #2:

You may not bring guidebooks, phrase books, or any kind of foreign language aid. And no journals.

• Rule #3:

You cannot bring extra money or credit/debit cards, traveler's checks, etc. I'll take care of all that.

• Rule #4:

No electronic crutches. This means no laptop, no cell phone, no music, and no camera. You can't call home or communicate with people in the U.S. by Internet or telephone. Postcards and letters are acceptable and encouraged.

Ginny must maneuver her way across the globe to find out what surprise is awaiting her in the 13th envelope. Though the rules above seem pretty daunting (no cell phone? How does a person get anywhere without a cell phone?), I think Ginny's journey seems like a blast. I've done a little traveling, and it's always an adventure that forces you to think fast, solve problems and be flexible.

 Have any of you had any crazy experiences while out on a trip? For those of you that have read the book, have you ever encountered any of the strange predicaments Ginny has?

Oh, and for those of you that are planning on making a trip sometime in the near future, Maureen Johnson, the author of the book, has a fun set of travel tips . Check them out, and bon voyage!