Psych Major Syndrome

by Alicia Thompson

Overview

Hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who’s badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks everyone is naive . . . Leigh is failing her own diagnosis!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781423143451
Publisher:	Disney Press
Publication date:	04/17/2012
Sold by:	DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE -EBKS
Format:	eBook
File size:	608 KB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Alicia Thompson graduated from New College of Florida in 2006 with a degree in psychology and wrote this debut novel in between pulling all-nighters on her senior thesis. Her short stories "Abby Greene for President" and "Stealing Mark Twain" have appeared in Girls' Life magazine. She is currently working on an MFA in fiction writing at the University of South Florida (where she still pulls the occasional all-nighter).

Editorial Reviews

Psychology major Leigh Nolan wants to devote her life to analyzing people, but in her first year at a small, highly liberal college, she has her hands full trying to decipher the meaning behind her own idiosyncrasies. Why is she so reluctant to buy a parking sticker when the tickets she has accumulated will cost far more than a decal? Why can't she pinpoint a happy moment that she's experienced? Why hasn't she had sex with the boy she's been dating for over a year? In a romantic comedy that at the same time deals frankly with sexual issues, first-time author Thompson pokes fun at academia as she explores Leigh's muddled feelings about her boyfriend and his good-looking roommate, Nathan. Ironies abound in this novel, and the supporting cast of offbeat characters—Leigh's unconventional parents (“My mom teaches shamanistic dance at the local Y, and my dad takes a weeklong vow of silence every year. Their view of 'normal' is a little skewed”); her arty roommate, Ami; and Rebekah, the smart-alecky, all-too-worldly middle schooler Leigh mentors—add depth. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Leigh Nolan decides to be a psychology major at Stiles College. She is fascinated by how people think and act; Leigh also enjoys analyzing her own life. She signs up for "Introduction to Psychology" and loves the class. Meanwhile, Leigh continues a relationship with her high school boyfriend, Andrew. He is smart, insightful, and pompous. Things seem to be going well, but Andrew never invites Leigh to spend the night. Why cannot Leigh take her relationship to the next level? Leigh mentors Rebekah, a junior high school student; but, Leigh wonders if she is really cut out to be a mentor; her own life is not going too well. One night Leigh has a dream about Nathan, Andrew's roommate. Does this dream have a deeper meaning? Are Leigh and Andrew destined to be together? In her debut novel, Alicia Thompson takes young adult readers onto a college campus that feels realistic and three-dimensional; readers will enjoy meeting Leigh and seeing what college is like for a psychology major. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.

Children's Literature - Suzanna E. Henshon

Gr 9 Up—Leigh, a freshman at tiny Stiles College in California, is more uptight than her artsy roommate Ami, but not quite as stiff as her high school boyfriend, Andrew. She's trying to figure out how to navigate her way through a psychology major at a school that's putting more pressure on her than she expected while weathering Andrew's expectations for sex though their romance is dwindling. Added into the mix are Andrew's attractive but moody roommate, several "mean girl" types, and a healthy dose of quirky, introspective humor. Leigh's exceptional vocabulary is naturally worked into the story, which is also heavily laced with brand and celebrity names, music references, and esoteric comments about zombies and girlfriends who might like to cook your bunny rabbit. The idea that Leigh's kooky parents (who own a psychic B&B) would have her share a bedroom at their home with a young man because they want to save space for paying guests seems far-fetched, as does a contrived subplot that features an overweight matron-type who is too rigid to talk with any honesty about sex. The young woman's ongoing inner conversations about sleeping with Andrew are much more believable.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

School Library Journal

Leigh's psych classes at Stiles College do little to help her understand why sex still doesn't seem like a good idea with her brainy, long-term boyfriend, why she can't stop thinking about his sweet, guitar-playing roommate and why her competitive classmates care so much about making her look stupid. A classic romantic-comedy formula feels fresh thanks to Leigh's witty, semi-slacker narration, adorably kooky persona and background-her parents read tarot cards and run a business as spiritual advisors. Leigh's breakup with the pretentious beau sends her into a dark period of self-pity, and even a titillating road trip with Nate (the one!) can't quite snap her out of it. Readers will speed through the final pages, looking for that fantastic kiss that will bring Nate and Leigh together. The college experience dominates much of the book; older teens looking ahead might enjoy anticipating their time away from home, but younger readers won't relate. Leigh's concern with sexual readiness will leave readers of all ages doing a little self-analysis and thinking about their own decisions. (Fiction. 16 & up)

Kirkus Reviews