2007 ALA NOMINEE
BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

 California Readers Book Collection Award Winner

The Carrs convincingly create Victoria Julianne Van Wyck, a haughty heiress that readers will at first love to hate. However, hearts may soften when the cosmopolitan Victoria is forced from her posh European lifestyle to Wahoo, Neb., with the new name, Amanda Jones, limited funds (and off-the-rack back-to-school clothes) and a bodyguard, Adam, aka Uncle Bob, to protect her. Realistically, Amanda's abrupt relocation, which is meant to protect her from death threats, doesn't reform her overnight. Instead, gradually through a friendship with Mills, her landlord's hardworking daughter, a part-time library job and exposure to a less-than-luxurious lifestyle, Amanda slowly learns the life lesson that she must consider others, while still maintaining her spunk and razor-sharp wit that she frequently uses to her advantage. A humorous, but at times intense, text held together by a strong, intelligent and eventually charming heroine.

- Kirkus Reviews 

Victoria Van Wyck is a girl with a lot of money—and a lot of attitude. But that all changes when her dad’s empire goes up in flames, causing her to run away and hide in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska. No money, no attitude—who is Victoria now? Chick lit—fun to read but has a strong message about the value of self.

- Anne Cannon, The Inkslinger

 

...A good pick for fans of the Rich Girl books I've been sampling lately—she's rich (though doesn't have access to her money), loves clothes (though rarely mentions brands by name), and is a spoiled brat (though she's funny, which always makes up for a lot of pillish behavior).

  She's much smarter than any of the girls in the series books—and even better, she isn't afraid to show it. She chucks out names of philosophers and authors, is so fluent in French that she puts her teacher to shame, and studies hard. She even (GASP!) reads for entertainment! All that and she has a very original voice—she manages to use "Kafkaesque" and "barf" in the same paragraph.

  Parents who are concerned about the sexual content in Gossip Girl, etc., will be happy to know that Victoria sees things a bit differently.

- Bookshelves of Doom

 

There is indisputable fun to be had as this saucy, cosmopolitan heroine maintains, and even redoubles, her dignity in a debut novel that may draw readers for its gentle parallels with TV's The Simple Life.

- Booklist Reviews

  

"I'd almost rather die than live like a poor person" is not the type of declaration that typically will endear you to someone, yet the reader must feel sympathy for Victoria Van Wyck, the 17-year-old who makes that very statement.

  When we first meet Victoria, she is recovering from yet another wild and crazy night of drinking and gambling. Her parents arrive in a panicky state, wild-eyed and frantic. They blurt out a tale involving embezzling, the Mob, hired murderers, and their crash into a life of poverty. Victoria and her parents must separately go into a witness protection-type program, changing their names, looks, and lifestyles. Victoria and her father's assistant, Adam, run away to the tiny town of Wahoo, Nebraska, where Victoria Van Wyck, ultra-rich, spoiled socialite, becomes Amanda Jones, middle-class public schoolgirl. Victoria learns the hard way about whom can be trusted. Her budding friendship with a neighbor girl is turned into ugly rumors after the two refuse the advances of the stars of the football team. Victoria gradually learns that, while other people can not always been depended on, she is stronger than she knew, and she has the ability to stick up for what is right rather than simply running with the crowd.

  Welcome to Wahoo  makes for an enjoyable lightweight read. Victoria is the type of character toward whom the reader perhaps feels in the beginning a bit of animosity. But as she grows toward the lovely young woman she has the potential to be, the reader cannot help but cheer her on...I recommend this book, as it does have enough humor, entertainment, romance and tension infused to make for an enjoyable read.

- Curled Up With A Good Kid's Book - 3 Stars

  

This story of the international mafia and small-town life...features a feisty character with a shot of spunk.

Victoria lives a charmed life in Europe. Everything changes when she and her parents are almost killed by gangsters and Victoria flees, alone, to Wahoo, Neb. There, she learns about life in a typical American high school. Will she survive public school—and imminent danger?

This light novel slips in lessons about bullying. Though a snob, Victoria is likeable.

- Romantic Times - 3 Stars

 

With Victoria's family wanted by assassins, she must leave her Swiss boarding school and live under a new identity in Nebraska. Her sassy personality helps her adjust to being the victim of rumors at school that make her an outcast. She learns a lot from her new life, and a plot twist adds an element of surprise.

- Horn Book

...I read Welcome to Wahoo. And I'm glad I did. Victoria is one of those girls you read about in tabloids. Kind of like the Hilton sisters, but smarter and funnier. Not that that's saying much. But yeah, Victoria is hilarious. Anyways, so she's having a great time at her boarding school in Switzerland, when her world is turned upside down. She and one of her father's bodyguards must leave Europe under assumed names and live in the small town of Wahoo, Nebraska, while her father and his family are being hunted by Sicilians. Oh, and they only have $5000. What follows is Victoria's take on small town American life, and the hilarious results of her enrollment at a "typical" American high school...it's definitely worth a read.

- Can't Stop Reading

I read your book, Welcome to Wahoo, it was soo good! It was a fun and quick read. I didn't anticipate that the end of the book would be like that! It was so cool to read a book that no one has read yet, but I told my friends about it. They are waiting to read it! You definitely have to come to Cleveland and speak at my school! That would be so cool! It is a great read and definitely captures someone's interest from the beginning!

- Love always, Zoe 16, Ohio

So yesterday...I read Welcome to Wahoo. And I'm glad I did. Victoria is one of those girls you read about in tabloids. Kind of like the Hilton sisters, but smarter and funnier. Not that that's saying much. But yeah, Victoria is hilarious. Anyways, so she's having a great time at her boarding school in Switzerland, when her world is turned upside down. She and one of her father's bodyguards must leave Europe under assumed names and live in the small town of Wahoo, Nebraska, while her father and his family are being hunted by Sicilians. Oh, and they only have $5000. What follows is Victoria's take on small town American life, and the hilarious results of her enrollment at a "typical" American high school.

- Victoria, 25 British Columbia

Yesterday you spoke at my school, Petaluma High in Petaluma, CA. You undoubtedly don't remember me but my name is Laura...A few seconds into your talk, I knew that I wanted to read your book. However, you could have been promoting used dishrags and I would have wanted one. Your charisma carried your lecture and you truly sold your book. Basically, your guys were cool. I loved the pink vest Dennis wore and the Victoria Rules shirt that Elise sported was pretty neato. I just finishing reading Welcome to Wahoo today and I was enthralled throughout. I suppose I am out of the age range (I'm 18) but I still felt as though I could connect with Victoria. Your novel was a welcome relief from required AP books and took me back to a time of carefree childhood days. I just wanted to thank you for an excellent work of fiction that I can see hitting it big. In addition, I learned a lot from what you taught us about writing.

P.S. I love the rules. Absolutely perfect touch.

- Laura, 18, Petaluma, CA

Welcome to Wahoo is a funny and original...altogether it's a great story. Victoria before Wahoo is easy to hate but, afterwards you can connect to her. Lots of people will want to read it. I also want you to know...This is a nice book to read on a beach somewhere for vacation. That's my thought anyway.

- Logan 13.

I loved your book! I hope you come out with a second book. I read your first one in like 45 minutes, on the way to the camping trip that we went on. I will be the first one at the stores to buy it.

- Cheyenne,15, NY, NY

To the wonderful authors of Welcome To Wahoo,

I really enjoyed your book. I loved it so much that I couldn't put it down! I really think if you made this book into a movie it would be a huge hit. I even lent this book to a friend telling her she had to read it! I know she will like it just as much as I did. Thank you for writing Welcome to Wahoo. I had a good laugh and I needed it!

Yours truly,

Marisa

P. S. I also thought you would like to know that I am a very picky reader and because I loved your book, I absolutely know that everyone else will!