This book serves as a great example of the speed at which technology changes. Published in 2004 and written entirely in instant messenger conversations, it embraces a technology now largely abandoned by the teenagers who made up the audience for ttyl.
The story is essentially a high school soap opera, told through the conversations between three tenth grade girls. Angela is the flirty one who's obsessed with making sure she has a boyfriend and willing to interpret the signals from the guy she's set her sights on in the most optimistic possible interpretation. Maddie is a world-wise tough girl who suddenly finds herself faced with the chance to hang with the "popular" kids. Zoe is the "smart one" who is coming to terms with her interest in Christianity while she has become the subject of a lecherous teacher's attention.
The instant-message format of the story serves both to enhance and limit the narrative. Since most of the conversations take place between only two of the three lead characters, the author is able to build tension as the reader is privy to information that the characters are unaware of or are holding back.
At the same time, almost all of the conversations are reacting to events that have already occurred, which can be a bit limiting. The format also limits the supporting cast. I found myself wanting to know more about a number of characters who are only shown through the filter of the three lead characters. Especially interesting was the "Queen Bee" character. There were a few hints that there was more to her than just the generic villain, but the hints were never quite fleshed out.
The tone and flow of the conversations was fun, and the characters are fairly complex. There were lots of little details that came across in the small talk between the girls that kept the story personal and believable. The "chat speak" isn't particularly difficult to follow. I thought there were a few moments when the characters lost the feel of "authentic" teenagers, usually because there was plot that needed to be advanced, but for the most part the language flows naturally.
The final resolution felt a bit abrupt, but readers who find themselves craving more will be happy to hear that the "Winsome Threesome" return in a sequel that picks up where ttyl left off.
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