Author Meg Cabot is best known for her series "The Princess Diaries," a fluffy tale that is most suitable for pre-teens. She has written over 40 novels of the same "chick lit" genre. However, her newest book, "Size 14 Is Not Fat Either," is a bit of a departure.
The sequel to "Size 12 Is Not Fat," the newest novel follows Heather Wells, a former pop star and current assistant resident hall director at New York College, as she tries to deal with neverending room change requests, extremely hung-over residents, a new boss and her own confusing personal life. However, working in what has been nicknamed "Death Dorm," Heather soon gets thrust into the middle of a gruesome murder investigation of one of the school's most popular cheerleaders.
There are certainly no tiaras or palaces in this book. Instead Cabot introduces her readers to a much more mature world - one full of body image issues, drugs, drinking and sex. Some very serious issues are addressed, including fraternity hazing rituals and the use of date rape drugs on college campuses. The language and topic matter is not appropriate for her usual audience of readers, but is perfect for the college student or recent graduate.
While it is in no danger of becoming a great American classic, "Size 14 Is Not Fat Either" is an entertaining and sometimes eerily accurate depiction of life on a college campus. Cabot manages to keep her reader engaged with just the right combination of humor, pop culture references and mystery. It is not necessary to have read the first book in the series to follow along. The plot, while unrealistic at times, is far from predictable and will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Also left unresolved until the next installment in the series is the heroine's love life - something that, with the murder and hall, Heather just hasn't had time to figure out.
Reading about the events that occur in "Death Dorm" can really make a student appreciate the luxuries afforded to them at their respective universities. As much as one may complain about the dining hall, at least there is not a dead body cooking in the kitchen. Cabot's newest book is the perfect choice for a relaxing and quick read on the journey home for Christmas break or to take one's mind off of all those final exams.
