Bass Ackwards and Belly Up

Bass Ackwards and Belly Up

Company type	Novel
Industry	Publishing
Founded	May 2006 (2006-05)
Founder	Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
Products	Young adult novel
Parent	Little, Brown and Company

Bass Ackwards and Belly Up is a young adult novel authored by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain and released by Little, Brown in May 2006. This debut work from Craft and Fain, who are also recognized for their roles as writers and co-producers on the television series The Shield, employs a dual narrative approach: Craft pens the viewpoints of Harper and Sophie, while Fain handles those of Kate and Becca. The novel received a nomination for the 2006 Borders Original Voices Award in the Intermediate/Young Adult Books category.

Set against the backdrop of Boulder, Colorado, the plot centers on four close friends—Harper Waddle, Sophie Bushell, Becca Winsberg, and Kate Foster—who have just graduated high school and are navigating choices about college and their futures. Kate’s adopted younger sister, Habiba ("Beebs"), also plays an important part in the narrative. Although Harper is denied admission to NYU, she hides this fact from her friends, instead claiming she declined NYU to dedicate herself to writing the next Great American Novel. Motivated by Harper’s ambition, Sophie decides to pursue acting while Kate follows her own aspirations; both opt out of college. In contrast, Becca chooses to enroll in college with hopes of experiencing love.

Harper's story

While confined at home attempting to write her novel, Harper encounters her favorite former high school English teacher, Mr. Adam Finelli, who is working at a neighborhood café. She shares her writing with him, and he offers assistance. Despite learning he has a girlfriend—which initially discourages her—Harper eventually ends their relationship. Adam invites Harper to his apartment to discuss her manuscript further, leading to a kiss between them. Though uncertain about his intentions at first, Harper later discovers that Adam had wanted to kiss her since they first met. She insists on not kissing him again until she completes her book and channels their experience into producing 51 pages of a first draft. Adam reviews it as promising for a first effort but ultimately uninspiring. The story concludes with Harper destroying her draft by burning it and deciding to begin anew.

Sophie's story

Sophie relocates to Los Angeles with ambitions of becoming an actress, residing in the guest house of affluent family friends. She forms a friendship with Sam, the pool attendant, whom she finds appealing. Through her hostess’s housekeeper, Sophie secures a minor role in a film. At a party attended with Sam, she meets Trey Benson, a well-known actor starring in the same movie. They start dating; although Trey initially treats her poorly, after confrontation he pretends to show respect and uses his industry connections to arrange auditions for films and commercials on her behalf. When Trey ceases communication, Sophie is upset until he invites her to spend the holidays at his family’s Aspen residence. Upon discovering a tabloid photo showing Trey kissing his co-star, Sophie returns to Los Angeles and rekindles her relationship with Sam through an exchange of gifts.

Kate's story

Ignoring her parents’ desire for her to attend Harvard, Kate chooses instead to follow her friends and carve out her own journey. She purchases an inexpensive ticket to Paris and bids farewell to her boyfriend Jared, who breaks up with her but describes it as merely a "break." Before departing, Harper, Sophie, Becca, and Habiba provide Kate with a list of dares to complete across Europe, each marked with their initials beside specific challenges. She accomplishes #76: Speak to the unattractive guy—Magnus—whom she unexpectedly falls for and soon realizes is not unattractive at all. After spending time together completing tasks on the list, they part ways when Magnus leaves for Stockholm University.

Becca's story

Becca is the sole college student among her group, navigating romantic interests while joining Middlebury College's ski team coached by Maddix, who harbors a dislike for her. She forms a friendship with Isabelle, a New Yorker familiar with Becca's circle of friends. After becoming intoxicated at a party and blacking out while shouting "I'm on fi-ya," Becca is looked after by Stuart, whom she has feelings for. Their relationship soon develops into dating. During Thanksgiving at Isabelle's upscale Park Avenue residence, Becca encounters Jared, Kate's former boyfriend and someone she has secretly admired for a long time—they share a kiss and spend the night together. Recognizing her error, Becca reveals the incident only to Harper. Upon discovering this, Stuart reacts with anger but ultimately forgives her following a lengthy discussion.

Sequel

The follow-up to Bass Ackwards and Belly Up, named Footfree and Fancyloose, was published on April 1, 2009. This installment picks up the narrative six months after the original story's conclusion.

Works cited

• Levan, Lindsay. "Bass Ackwards and Belly Up." Greensboro News and Record, June 1, 2006.
• Krippner, Leah. "Craft, Elizabeth & Sarah Fain. Bass Ackwards and Belly Up." School Library Journal, June 1, 2006.
• "Bass Ackwards and Belly Up." Publishers Weekly, May 15, 2006.
• Engberg, Gillian. "Craft, Elizabeth and Fein, Sarah. Bass Ackwards and Belly Up." Booklist, April 1, 2006.
• Butler, Dori Hillestad. "Books will keep young readers busy." Gazette (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA), July 2, 2006.
• van Vleck, Nicole. "Four best friends find their way in young-adult novel." Anchorage Daily News (AK), August 6, 2006.
• Coats, Karen. "Bass Ackwards and Belly Up (review)." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2006.

External links

• Bass Ackwards and Belly Up: Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain at the Little, Brown Book Group.