Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer follows two girls who have an intense hatred for each other but also share a love of music. Kathryn went from nobody to somebody when she became friends with Brooke over a shared love of music. Things went sour and Brooke humiliated Kathryn in front of the whole school at homecoming causing Kathryn to become an outcast who is taunted by Brooke's friends. When Katherine and Brooke compete in a singing competition they must find a way to get over the past so they can survive the biggest moment in both of their lives.
This was a very good novel about friendship and the power of popularity. The book is told in both the present and the past allowing readers to see the rise and fall of Brooke and Kathryn's friendship. The background of two girls preparing to compete in a major opera singing competition is original (although not entirely accurate for their ages) and gives a note of originality to the story.
Appropriateness: There are quite a few party scenes with excessive drunkenness which is shown to be destructive. There is also quite a bit of bullying. There's no sex or drugs. The main characters are seventeen and preparing for college making this a book that older teens would enjoy.
