Top Ten Clues You're Clueless

by Liz Czukas

[Leah]

When I spotted Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless on Edelweiss, I downloaded it immediately. I’ve heard VERY good things about Liz Czukas and have her other novel on my book shelf to read, after having it recommended to me as a light and funny YA read, so I was hoping for more of the same with Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless – especially with a title as awesome as this one; it’s probably one of my favourite book titles, ever!

whatiloved

IT’S SET IN A SUPERMARKET. As a person who works in a supermarket, it has been my dream for three years to read a book about a supermarket and it’s finally arrived! *Blows horn trimphantly* Not only is it set in a supermarket, but it’s actually spot-on. Chloe is our narrator and she narrates life in a supermarket as if she works in the same one as me! Same crazy customers, same crazy situations, and all the irritants that come with supermarket work. It made me so happy, I tell you. SO, SO HAPPY.

Chloe is actually a wonderful narrator. The plot itself is a bit crazy – a charity box filled with money is stolen, and Chloe and her “youngling” co-workers are pretty much held hostage for the evening until the cops arrive, on Christmas Eve. But because Chloe is so lovely, and the setting was so wonderful, I really enjoyed the book. I loved that Chloe was some sort of amateur detective, trying to figure out who stole the money; I liked that she was so sweet and that she wrote top ten lists – I could have read a whole novel filled with Chloe’s varying top ten lists. They were so much fun! Chloe’s co-workers, too, were lovely, with Micah making the most impression. I do like a clever boy. It was just such a fun, sweet read. So lovely to come back to, for each read.

thenotsogood

I don’t really have any complaints – I mean, the plot is a little thin on the ground and I’m not quite sure it’s legal to hold under-age staff for so long, on Christmas Eve. It was all a bit too hostage-like for me, although the hi-jinks the kids get up to was quite fun. Apart from that, I can’t really complain – the novel did exactly what it said on the tin!

verdict

Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless is a cute, sweet story – and best of all, it’s set in the real world and in a supermarket of all places. The storyline was a teensy bit thing, but Chloe was wonderful. Such a lovely young girl, and as I said the book does exactly what I expected it to do. It took me away from reality for a while and made me laugh and nod my head at all the crazyness you see in supermarket life!