Impossible

Werlin, Nancy. 2008. Impossible. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803730021

Plot Summary

From the sting of my curse she can never be free

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

Unless she unravels my riddlings three

She will be a true love of mine

Seventeen-year-old Lucy Scarborough is unaware of the curse that was laid upon the women in her family by an Elfin Knight. At age eighteen, Lucy will give birth to a daughter and go insane, just like her mother did. For generations each Scarborough girl has grown up alone, abandoned by her mad mother, with no idea of her fate except for a version of the Scarborough Faire ballad that details the three impossible tasks she must perform to escape the curse.

On the night of her junior prom, Lucy’s date rapes her and then dies in an automobile accident. A month later, Lucy finds out that she is pregnant, and the curse is set in motion. Unlike the women before her, Lucy has a family, the loving foster parents who took her pregnant mother in and raised Lucy as their own. Lucy has Zach, the boy next door, whose love for Lucy creates a magic of its own. Lucy also has a note from her mother, a note that she finds too late to escape the curse completely but which provides her the chance to break the curse forever.

Critical Analysis

 

Impossible is a fantasy with nail biting suspense and a riddle that seems impossible to solve without the wealth of information available on the internet. “Modern logic and methodology mesh splendidly with fairy lore; if emergency contraception won't break the curse, then maybe duct tape will.” (Kirkus)  

“This unique story flows smoothly and evenly, and the well-drawn characters and subtle hints of magic early on allow readers to enter willingly into the world of fantasy.” (School Library Journal) Due to her mother's madness, Lucy has spent a lifetime watching for any sign of it in herself; her gradual acceptance of the reality of the magical curse is believable because she and her family are initially very skeptical and practical. The undeniable clues to the existence of the curse are revealed to Lucy and her family one by one, allowing them time to accept this new magical reality. 

Although Impossible deals with date rape, teenage pregnancy and marriage, it is not a problem novel. Lucy takes emergency contraception after the rape, but it fails. Once she realizes that she is pregnant, she decides to keep the baby and does not waver in her decision. The love between Lucy and Zach seems destined even without the added incentives of impending parenthood and madness. Occasional detailed explanations of some aspects of pregnancy are the only reminder that the book’s intended audience may need additional facts about pregnancy in general.

Review Citation

Montgomery, Jennifer D. 2008. "Impossible." School Library Journal 54, no. 9: 194-196.

2008. "IMPOSSIBLE." Kirkus Reviews 76, no. 15: 231.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Crutcher, Chris. 2003. Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. New York: Harper Tempest. ISBN 9780060094898

Plot Summary

Eric “Moby” Calhoune and Sarah Byrnes have been best friends for years. Their friendship developed because of a shared case of the “terminal uglies”, he was obese and she was horribly scarred. When Eric discovers a love of swimming, he tries to stay fat in order to reassure Sarah Byrnes that their friendship is more than skin deep.

In their senior year of high school, Sarah Byrnes is admitted into a psychiatric hospital in an apparent catatonic state. Eric is desperate to figure out why and how to help her, but the answers will put both of them in terrible danger.

Critical Analysis

Chris Crutcher tackles several issues in Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, child abuse, abortion, suicide and religious intolerance. From the beginning of the story, the reader realizes that Sarah Byrnes’ father is cruel, but the horrific depths of the abuse are revealed slowly as the story unfolds. The issues of abortion and religious intolerance are handled within the setting of a Contemporary American Thought class led by Eric’s favorite teacher and swim coach, Ms. Lemry. The juxtaposition of all of these themes and issues is a bit disjointed at times, however “the self-deprecating humor of Moby's narrative and the high drama of the classroom scenes (some of the best of the book) keep the reader involved in the compelling issues that drive the plot to its conclusion.” (Book Report)

The detailed descriptions of the competitive swim practices serve to illustrate the strength and confidence that Eric has gained as a result of swimming. The romance between Eric and Jody (the former girlfriend of Eric’s swim team and CAT class rival, Mark) is sweet and endearing, but not an integral part of the story. The real meat of the story is in the relationship between Eric and Sarah Byrnes who “save one another on many levels throughout this breathtakingly complex and harrowing story of emotional heroism and growth.” (School Library Journal) Sarah Byrnes’ vicious humor and wit, and Eric’s unfaltering friendship are skillfully written.

Unfortunately, the ending does not do justice to the characters or the rest of the story. The romance between Eric and Jody fades to an afterthought soon after it begins. The newspaper article layout of the story of Sarah Byrnes’ adoption by Ms. Lemry is hokey. Mr. Byrnes is caught and brought to justice, as he should be, but not by Eric or the police. It takes Eric’s mom’s mild mannered accountant boyfriend who turns out to be a Special Forces Vietnam vet to lie in wait and capture Mr. Byrnes in his own home.

Review Citations

Hofmann, Mary. 2005. "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes." School Library Journal 51, no. 11: 59.

Makowski, Marilyn. 1993. "Reviews: Fiction." Book Report 12, no. 1: 39.

Bloody Jack

Meyer, L. A.. 2007. Bloody Jack: being an account of the curious adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, ship’s boy. Read by Katherine Kellgren. New Jersey: Listen & Live Audio, Inc. ISBN 9781593160944

Plot Summary

Orphaned on the streets of London when her parents died of the plague, Mary Faber survives by joining a gang of street urchins. When the leader of the gang is killed, Mary decides to get off the streets by going to sea on the HMS Dolphin as a ship’s boy. Once on ship, “Jacky” is determined to keep up the deception of being a boy for as long as possible. In between battling pirates, Jacky has to contend with bullies, unexpected changes in her body, the attentions of a pedophile, a blossoming romance with a fellow ship’s boy named Jaimy, and a shipwreck.

Critical Analysis

L.A. Meyer’s Mary “Jacky” Faber is a wonderfully endearing character. From the very beginning of the story readers will feel an emotional connection with Mary as the bodies of her parents and sister are carted away and she is put out on the street. The detailed account of the hardships of her life on the streets lends credibility to her sudden decision to seek her fortunes on the Dolphin, even though she is sure she will be put overboard as soon as they discover that she is not a boy. Jacky’s ignorance of what is in store for her as a woman, “Nothing else matters now, because I am dying… Two days ago I started to bleed. Down there.”, and her efforts to disguise herself provide humor throughout the story.

“The first-person narrative shines, and a wealth of historical research is seamlessly knitted into the material.” (Kirkus) Jacky’s running commentary of her day to day activities provide an abundance of historical information, although, at times the descriptions of the various parts of the ship almost threaten to interrupt the flow of the story. “This is perfect historical fiction and in audiobook format the sounds of the period and place ring true and clear.” (School Library Journal)

 

“Kellgren’s flexible British accent easily captures the seafaring atmosphere and Jacky’s emotions… excellently reflecting the varied nationalities and personalities onboard.” (Booklist) The performance of the story is outstanding. Not only does she bring the accents of the characters to life, she fills them with emotion, leaving the listener quivering. This story was written to be read aloud.

Review Citations

2002. "BLOODY JACK (Book)." Kirkus Reviews 70, no. 15: 1137.

Goldsmith, Francisca. 2007. "Bloody Jack." School Library Journal 53, no. 11: 70.

Spencer Holley, Pam. 2008. "Bloody Jack." Booklist 104, no. 9/10: 108.

Speak

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2006. Speak. Platinum Ed. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN 0142407321

Plot Summary

As Melinda’s freshman year begins she is snubbed by her former friends, and most of the school, because she called 911 at an end-of-summer party. No one asks why she called the cops, and Melinda is no longer speaking much at all. Melinda slips into a deep depression and only begins to come out of it when she realizes her former best friend is going out with the “beast”, the boy who raped Melinda at the ill fated party. Melinda finds a way to let her former friend know what happened, but she does not truly regain her voice until after she fends off a second attack by the boy.

Critical Analysis

“An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last.” (Horn Book Magazine)

Speak chronicles Melinda’s first year in high school using short first person narratives that read like journal entries. The story is broken into four parts, four marking periods. Melinda’s descent into depression is shown in her falling grades at the end of each marking period, and through her descriptions of her bloody lip that she has been chewing on all year. The final marking period, in the spring, reveals a gradual change in Melinda’s outlook that culminates in her being able to speak out against her rapist.

Melinda’s internal dialogue is scathingly witty and provides a sharp contrast to her sullen outward silence. “The teen's struggle to find acceptance and her voice is compelling and illustrates the cruelty of peer pressure and high school cliques.” (School Library Journal) The story of what happened at the end-of-summer party is revealed bit by bit, with jarring interruptions to the flow of Melinda’s dialogue whenever she encounters her rapist. “I see IT in the hallway. IT goes to Merryweather. IT is walking with Aubrey Cheerleader. IT is my nightmare and I can’t wake up. IT sees me. IT smiles and winks.”

Melinda’s parents are worried and upset about her grades and attitude, but they never try to figure out why she is silent. Melinda’s friends are too angry to find out why she called the cops. Speak shows the devastation wrought by rape and the need for people to listen that much harder when someone stops speaking.

Review Citations

Ralston, Jennifer. 2003. "Speak (Book)." School Library Journal 49, no. 10: 99.

Adams, Lauren. 1999. "Speak." Horn Book Magazine 75, no. 5: 605-606.

Keeping You a Secret

Peters, Julie Anne. 2003. Keeping you a secret. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316702757

Plot Summary

Holland begins the second semester of her senior year under the pressure of a full course load, a boyfriend, being student body president, and her mother’s insistence that she get into a good college. Holland’s priorities shift when she meets Cece, an out and proud lesbian who recently transferred from another school. Holland soon realizes that she wants more than friendship from Cece, but Cece insists that Holland keep their relationship a secret. Holland, in the throes of first love, is unprepared for the way her world is turned upside down when the truth comes out. Holland’s friends are not supportive and her mother kicks her out, but she finds support and friendship in places she never expected.

Critical Analysis

Keeping You a Secret explores a young woman’s first crush on another woman, their passionate relationship, and the trauma of coming out in a hostile environment. “Holland's experiences will inform readers who are also discovering their sexual identity. Gay or straight, they'll identify with the excitement that accompanies that first love affair.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Holland’s character comes across as rather naïve. Holland is oblivious to the homophobic rhetoric at her school, until Cece comes along. Holland goes along with Cece’s insistence that they keep their relationship a secret without questioning the wisdom or necessity of it. When she comes out to her mom, Holland is blindsided by her mother’s intolerance and homophobia (even though the reader knows it is coming). Publisher’s Weekly wrote, “Holland's adjustment to her new sexuality after she first kisses Cece seems too sudden”, but I disagree. Holland’s naivety has protected her from painful questioning of her identity and it is only after she discovers how right everything feels with Cece that she becomes aware of how wrong her relationship with her boyfriend felt. It may be sudden, but it comes across as genuine.

The plot of the story is sufficient to convey the themes of first true love and the necessity of creating a chosen family (i.e. the gay community) to support you when your given family fails you. However, some parts of the plot fall flat. The revelation of Cece’s motives in asking Holland to keep their relationship a secret is too dramatic and based on unfounded fears; her motives reveal a critical flaw in either Cece’s maturity, the plot, or both. Holland’s mother’s extreme reaction is foreshadowed by her discomfort meeting Cece and her obsession that Holland fulfill her thwarted college ambitions, but none of the love and concern for Holland that her mother showed remains after Holland comes out. Regardless of these flat notes, the happiness Holland feels when she is with Cece comes through loud and clear.

Review Citations

2003. "Keeping you a secret (Book)." Kirkus Reviews 71, no. 8: 610.

Roback, Diane, Jennifer M. Brown, Joy Bean, and Jeff Zaleski. 2003. "Keeping you a secret (Book)." Publishers Weekly 250, no. 16: 63.

Harmless

Reinhardt, Dana. 2007. Harmless. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 9780385746991

Plot Summary

Three freshmen at a private day school – Anna, Emma, and Mariah – lie to their parents so they can go to a party at the house of Mariah’s boyfriend, a senior at a local public high school. The lie works the first time, so they decide to do it again. The second time, however, their parents catch them in the lie and the girls decide to make up a story about having been attacked to explain their whereabouts. What they thought would be a harmless lie spirals out of control, putting them at the center of a community wide effort to find the perpetrator. As the lie continues to take on a life of its own, the girls drift apart. Anna enjoys the attention she is receiving, Miranda wishes it would all go away, and Emma struggles to come to terms with what happened to her at the first party when she was intoxicated. Eventually, after an innocent man is arrested for the “attack”, the girls have to face the consequences for telling a lie that was not at all harmless.

Critical Analysis

Harmless explores the damage that can be caused by a single lie. “Reinhardt successfully avoids a sanctimonious tone in imparting this moral lesson and infuses the story with enough drama to avoid banality.” (Kirkus Reviews) The story unfolds through first person narratives, each chapter presents one girl’s narrative of what happened, her thoughts and reactions, and her interpretation of the actions of the other characters. The alternating viewpoints help to create a compelling story. The girls come from dissimilar families and are at different stages of sexual awakening, which leads each girl to have a different interpretation of the events as they unfold. The setting of a private school, in a small community, means none of the girls are able to escape the continuous scrutiny of the police, their families, and the community.

Woven through the plotline of the consequences of the lie is another plotline about the emotional costs and traps of romantic relationships and sexual activity. Miranda learns that her boyfriend is only interested in one thing, and it does not include truly getting to know her, or taking her to his prom. Miranda eventually finds someone who is truly interested in her, only to lose him once the truth about the “attack” comes out. Anna finds that she likes being the center of attention, especially the attention she receives from one crime show obsessed boy, but he loses interest when her story unravels. Emma’s story is the most compelling, she is struggling to come to terms with a sexual encounter she had when she was drunk. Emma is withdrawn and troubled, and everyone assumes it is because of her narrow escape during the “attack”, which makes it even harder for her to process what really happened. “Teens will be drawn into the drama of how smart people can sometimes do stupid things, and will be satisfied with the difficult resolution each girl ultimately must face.” (School Library Journal)

There is one unfortunate aspect of the novel’s exploration of the idea that “when it comes to sex, the spectrum from what is completely healthy and consensual to what is clearly rape is a long and very murky line.” This line is made even murkier by the addition of accusations of sexual harassment by a former student of Emma’s father. The accusations are not explored or resolved sufficiently, and only serve to confuse the issue.



Review Citations

2007. "Harmless." Kirkus Reviews 75, no. 3: 158.

Carhart, Jo-Ann. 2007. "Harmless." School Library Journal 53, no. 6: 71.