Fiction Addict

Genre: YA

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Dates: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Bryn O’Connor loves theater and drama. She is really good at it too. Except that her boyfriend doesn’t like it. He’s one of the most popular guys in school and when he doesn’t like something, you should really not to like it either. When you don’t do what he likes, he might do something bad. Like hit you. A lot. He might even do it so much that you end up in the hospital. This is what happened to Bryn. A simple argument turned into a car accident. When she arrived at the hospital, they discovered injuries that were not consistent with a car accident. That’s where everything started on a downhill spiral. It’s when her father found out that Preston beat her up a lot. It’s when the police got involved. Charges were pressed.  And after that? Things really got bad.

Since her mother is in another country, this is where Bryn’s grandmother steps in and volunteers to come and stay with them for a while. Bryn is nonplussed. The memories she has of her grandmother are awkward. Her grandmother is a beautiful and famous surfer. Bryn feels she is the opposite of that. She’s expecting that when her grandmother arrives, it’s going to be all sorts of questions, interrogations, and pushing. She’s more than shocked when it doesn’t go that way at all. And what’s Preston saying about all of this? Why are there websites popping up online about Bryn and her ‘lying ways?’ Just how far will all of this go? Will someone else get hurt?

Once again, Nancy Rue has scored a direct hit on the mind of a teenage girl in the midst of horrifying situations. Last venture out, Motorcycles, Sushi & One Really Strange Book, she tackled the difficult topic of ADHD and emotionally unstable parents. This time, a teenager abused by her boyfriend and bullying pushed to the extreme are her hot button topics and she once again approaches them with tender style and respect. Inside the mind of a teenage girl is not always the easiest subject matter for an adult writer trying to reach a young adult audience. I, for one, remain impressed with Rue’s style and technique as she moves through this fast paced story.

Again we have an adult role model that seems nearly too good to be true. This time, instead of a parent, it’s a grandparent who understands everything with a keen perspective and seems to not make mistakes. And like last time, I’m more than willing to give grace for this ‘perfect’ character. As I was reading, I was tucking away lines and thoughts and ideas for when my girls venture into teen drama. Parts of this book frightened me with the vehemence, anger and vitriol spewed at Bryn’s character when she was doing the right thing. Then again, all one has to do to understand that Rue has captured the teenage mind well is watch the news. Stories like this one, where kids bully other kids (to death in some instances), have become all too commonplace in the news. Nancy Rue seems to have her finger firmly on the pulse of the troubled teenager. Once again, she’s brought us a story with drama, intelligence, a little bit of romance and a lot of insight into the teenage mind.

With this story, I’ve become a passionate Nancy Rue fan and would heartily recommend her to anyone who would like a little bit of advice, insight, or a new way to reach a troubled teen.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.