Award Coverage for The Blondes Series
- Finalist, Governor General's Literary Award, 2006
- Finalist, Ontario Library Association White Pine Award, 2006
- OLA Best Bets: Young Adult Fiction: Overall Top 10 2007
- Shortlisted, Canadian Library Association Young Adult Canadian Book Award, 2007
- Canadian Children's Book Centre Starred Our Choice Award
- Finalist, Canadian Library Association YA Book of the Year, 2008
- Canadian Children's Book Centre, Starred Our Choice Award, 2008
- Ontario Library Association Best Books, 2007
- Editors Choice, Vancouver Sun, 2007
Reviews for Beyond Blonde
“In this third book about Sophie, now 16, and her Croatian immigrant family, Toten achieves a new balance of the intelligent and the heart-warming, of slapstick and teen romance formula.
Toten’s broad humour and comic take on 1970s Toronto high school life are deepened by her thoughtful portrayal of Papa’s alcoholism and what that means for him and for Sophie. As usual, Sophie’s Aunties, their well-meaning plots, enthusiasm and almost-but-not-quite-right English, are a force of nature that takes up the slack when Sophie is feeling down or uncertain. Quirky, light teenaged romance.”
—Toronto Star
Blondes with both style and substance are rare in teen lit aimed at girls... The Blondes are more three-dimensional than they might have been, and while some of the aunties can be caricatures at times, they are hilarious, and her rendering of their accents on paper is pitch-perfect - I can hear them as I read. These are a great reminder of the power of having firm friends and loving relatives in your life, as well as being a fun ride."
—UrbanMoms.ca
"Well, of course I started and finished Beyond Blonde in the same weekend! I read Teresa's books and wonder: How does she do that? How does she make it all so real, so heart-breakingly sad and--so gut-bustingly funny at the same time?"
—Bev Katz Rosenbaum author of I was a Teenaged Popsicle www.bevkatzrosenbaum.com
"David and Sophie on the dance floor give Edward and Bella some competition for most romantic interlude."
—Mabel's Fables
Reviews for The Blondes Series
"Hilarious..." Starred Review
—Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books
"The story advances, as good fiction should, by being creatively and imaginatively told with just enough humour to break up the intensity of typical teen life. Life is disorderly and chaotic, fun and tragic, all in equal measure."
—The Globe & Mail
"The dialogue is smart and the story dextrously plotted. Toten provides several interesting twists and turns. We might expect the blondes to make a false turn themselves, but there again Toten surpises us."
—Quill & Quire
"Teresa Toten's new young adult novel is filled with both humour and heart. It is delightfully original, peopled as it with uniquely hilarious characaters and a quirky, down-to-earth protagonist."
—Canadian Children's Book News
"Sophie is a fabulous character whose self-deprecating wit, adoration of her seriously over-the-top amusing aunties and her insightful critque of mid'70's high school life will have readers rolling in the aisles with laughter and the nervous tension of painful growing up can be."
—CM Magazine
