Second Helpings (2003) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

show spoilers

Characters/People edit see section history

• Jessica Darling: The narrator and a confused teenager. She is extremely bright, and a talented writer.
• Marcus Flutie: Used to be know as Krispy Kreme, due to his previous drug and promiscuity habits. He and Jessica have a difficult friendship due to his original intentions with her, but she harbors a deep (sexual & emotional) desire for him.
• Mrs. Levy: Len Levy's mother. She and Len have a very close relationship, and he tells her everything.
• Bridget: Jessica's beautiful blonde neighbor, and oldest friend.
• Sara: Formerly known as "Bruiser" and a member of the Clueless Two. She has recently lost a massive amount of weight, and is known for signature phrases "omigod" and "quote, unquote."
• Manda: A self-proclaimed feminist, and publicly labeled skank. She is a member of the Clueless Two.
• Hope: Jessica's best friend. She moved to Tennessee in the 10th grade.
• Gladdie: Jessica's grandmother. She now resides in an assisted living home.
• Scotty: A super-jock, and super jerk, that harbors a desire to have sex with Jessica.
• Paul Parlipiano: Jessica's gay-crush from high school. He attends Columbia University, and is Taryn Baker's older step-brother.
• Bethany: Jessica's older sister. She is married to Grant (G-Money) and lives in California.
• Moe: A resident at Gladdie's assisted living home, and her current beau.
• Taryn Baker: A high school student that Jessica tutors. She claimed to be responsible for Marcus Flutie's fake urine sample, and was suspended her freshman year. She is Paul Parlipiano's younger step-sister.
• Ashleigh: Bridget's roomate at SPECIAL
• Miss Haviland: Jessica's Honor's English teacher and the advisor of the school paper.
• Brandi: The school's professional counselor and Health and Human Sexuality teacher.
• Hyacinth Anastasia Wallace: Add a description of this character.
• Percy
• Burke: Bridget's ex-boyfriend that cheated on her with Manda.
• Sandi
• Ms. Susan Petrone
• Heath: Hope's deceased older brother. He was friends with Marcus, and died of an overdose.
• Kiley

Quotes edit see section history

• “I've never really wanted to be popular. All I've ever wanted was one person who totally understood where I was coming from - who wasn't a thousand miles away.”

  Jessica Darling

• “Ever notice how people wait until they're not going to see you anymore to say something nice to you?”

  Jessica Darling

• “You couldn't forget if you tried.”

  Marcus Flutie

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• I believe that what we get out of life is what we’ve set ourselves up to get, so there’s no such thing as an inconsequential decision. Our destinies are the culmination of all the choices we’ve made along the way, which is why it’s imperative to listen hard to your inner voice when it speaks up. Don’t let anyone else’s noise drown it out.

  Highlighted by 19 Kindle customers

• Tragedy was part of our daily routine. But through it all, I never understood the point of being sad when I could choose to be happy.”

  Highlighted by 18 Kindle customers

• Change one event, make a left instead of a right, and who knows where, or more specifically, who I might be at this moment.

  Highlighted by 16 Kindle customers

• “Because I’ve learned that you can’t control what other people are going to think about you. The best you can do in life is not piss yourself off.”

  Highlighted by 14 Kindle customers

• Even with the best intentions, growing apart might just be an inevitable part of growing up. It’s no one’s fault, so there’s nothing to feel guilty about. It’s just the way things are.

  Highlighted by 12 Kindle customers

• “ ‘The ignorant take themselves too seriously. The brilliant know better, and laugh at themselves.’

  Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers

• As Confucius says, “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”

  Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers

• “ ‘If you can’t annoy somebody, there’s little point in writing,’ ” he replied. “Kingsley Amis.”

  Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers

• “ ‘Be great in act as you have been in thought.’—William Shakespeare.”

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

• “Do you know what John Steinbeck said about New York?” “Uh, no.” “He said, ‘New York is an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, its competition is murderous. But there is one thing about it—once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.’ ”

  Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Pineville High
• Columbia
• New York City
• Silver Meadows: The assisted living center where Gladdie and Moe live. Marcus works there.
• California
• New Jersey
• Manhattan
• Amherst
• Tennessee

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Sloppy Firsts, and followed by Charmed Thirds.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Megan McCafferty (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813.6

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

More Books Like This edit see section history