I'm sorry, but this book is not a book for 12 year olds and/or people under 12. The reason why is only because the author went too far, describing body parts, the SERIOUS relationship with Patrick (excuse me, but kissing someone on the eyelids in a friend's pool at 14 is plain SICK!), and about boy-and-girl things that referred to as usually grownup relationships.So I only read half of the book because halfway through the book, Lester explained things to Alice about things that young people shouldn't know about yet. I know I'm 12, but there's some things that I and some peoples around my age would never understand that much.So the author put too much about girls ages 13 and up. So if I were you, don't bother reading it.