It's all about malt shops and miscommunication. Though the cover of this edition (Berkeley-1963) suggests a young Jackie Kennedy fruggin' on American Bandstand, do not be deceived-this book is centered squarely in the teen psycho-social imaginary of 1946. But just as Diane is about to experience her first and most-hyped kiss, she decides she's not ready yet for such shenanigans and runs back to the party to find her 'true love' Jim. Toward midnight, Navy man asks her to take a walk on the golf course. That date finally happens at the big spring dance. Throughout the book, Diane angles for a date with the brother of her friend-an 18-year-old in his first year at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. dorky cousin turns out to be 'boy magnet,' forced to take dorky cousin to big Halloween dance unexpected arrival of dorky cousin from Michigan forced to go on date with dweebish Freshman tutoring of lummox 'Jim' for English exams same blond on occasional dates with 'Jim' same blond taking her position on the hockey team

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arrival of an attractive blond from New York City. An edition of The boy next door (1956) The boy next door. Though there are a number of 'high points' during the year, Diane's time is for the most part consumed by an unending string of crises that threaten to humiliate and/or disenfranchise her from the high school's social hierarchy. But then the boy next door, Jim, asks her to the movies, opening a sophomore year of unparalleled social anxiety, sexual apprehension, and physical awkwardness. Diane is 15 and perplexed at the rituals of dating that lie ahead of her.

The Boy Next Door by Betty Cavanna