There is always controversy in Hollywood during film adaptations about film directors and screenwriters not staying true to the content of the story. Sarah Dessen's story is no different. In the film How to Deal starring Trent Ford and Mandy Moore, it blends two beloved novels Someone Like You and That Summer into one succinct novel. The movie is actually very cute, however when I read about the controversy I decided to watch the film and read the two books to see where they went wrong.
Title: How to Deal
Director: Clare Kilner
Actors: Mandy Moore, Trent Ford, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Alexandra Holden
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Mandy Moore's character, Halley, is a typical teenage girl. She is just going through the motions and dealing with her crazy sister's upcoming nuptials and has to deal with her father's nuptials as well to a girl that is extremely young and only half of her mother's age. Halley's best friend Scarlett does not have any of this drama, she is completely in love with Micahel Sheerwood, one of the cutest and nicest boys in school. However, Michael dies in an unexpected heart attack, leaving Scarlett heartbroken. Scarlett is dealing with her grief when it is revealed that she is actually pregnant, at 16. Scarlett and Halley are thrown for a loop and the two girls are not sure what to do. However, Scarlett is determined to keep the baby and struggles through a teenage pregnancy. Halley meanwhile is falling for Michael Sheerwood's best friend, Macon. He is geeky and cute and not at all like the boys Halley has dated before. Halley is struggling with conflict with her mother about Macon and is just trying to get through all of the things that are changing rapidly around her that she is not ready for. The story ends in a very cute way with her Sister's nuptials, however, Halley just needs to learn how to deal with the lemon's life throws at you. This movie is pre-2003 and very similar to Juno but is extremely fun to watch and is now one of my favorite teen movies.
Title: Someone Like You
Author: Sarah Dessen
ISBN Number: 0142401773
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Romance
Summary: This story is Halley's story of her best Scarlett dealing with her pregnancy and her attraction to the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. This entire story is about Halley trying to deal with the fact that Scarlett is pregnant and attempts to try and help her no matter what. Halley has always admire Scarlett for being extremely strong and tough, however, now Scalett has to really rely on Halley. The only difference between this collaboration of How to Deal from this particular book is the fact that Michael Sheerwood did not die by heart attack, he died in a motorcycle accident.
Title:That Summer
Author:Sarah Dessen
ISBN Number: 0670061107
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Grief, Family
Summary: This book is not my particular favorite but it is sweet. This is really the book that focuses on the family side of How to Deal. The main protagonist in this book is named Haven and is dealing with her sister's upcoming nuptials and her father marrying a too young woman. Haven is struggling with everything and tries to understand why Ashley would dump her High School sweetheart and marry her fiance all the while, Haven is dealing with her own budding attraction for Ashley's old boyfriend.
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