October 1, 2006
Thirteen-year-old Sam's father "would rather drink than breathe" in Friend's (Perfect) intense, touching problem novel. Sam's mother deals by doing yoga, her grandmother tells her not to "air our dirty laundry in public," and Sam is too ashamed to talk to her friends. So she starts leaving notes at the library-notes that are answered by someone named "A.J.K." Though she does not get exactly the responses she needs, Sam is able to open up about what is happening at home and get support when she needs it most. It is easy to empathize with Sam, who both resents her father and longs to have him back in her life. In the background, the author also creates an authentic school setting, in which boys often harass girls over physical attributes, and girls turn on one another in cruel ways; these details ground the novel and demonstrate why Sam may feel so alone. Readers will not be surprised when her father's behavior takes a tragic turn, though they may find the plot twist extreme. They will be touched by Sam's devotion to her younger brother, though, who bears the brunt of the tragedy, and a tender conversation she has with her mother, in which she asks, "What did I get from Dad?" and learns "things I never knew" about him. In the end, the author gives no easy answers, but readers who need more help will find resources for hotlines, Web sites and related books. Ages 12-up.
December 1, 2006
Gr 7 Up-To the outside world, 13-year-old Samanthas family seems perfectly happy. However, they are struggling to keep her architect fathers alcoholism a secret, and the balancing act of enabling his addiction and protecting their image is becoming more and more difficult. Sam longs to be able to share her burden with a friend and reaches out by leaving an anonymous autobiographical letter in a library book. Her anger and frustration are palpable as she struggles with her love for her dad despite the fact that his promises to clean up never materialize. When Sam is chastised by her mother and grandmother for not believing in his ability to change, readers will sympathize with the injustice of her difficult situation. Yet, the author avoids a maudlin tone by infusing the plot with details of typical teen life, such as Sams crush on an older boy and embarrassment at her developing body. Witty dialogue and smooth writing move the novel along at a clipped pace, and tension is successfully built and maintained as the teens fathers illness takes a dangerous turn, her budding relationship comes to a head, and her anonymous library pen pal is revealed. Despite the minor appearance of a stereotypical librarian, this is a perceptive novel featuring a likable protagonist to whom readers will easily relate. As in "Perfect" (Milkweed, 2004), Friend adroitly portrays a weighty topic with touches of humor and grace."Rebecca M. Jones, Fort Myers-Lee County Library, FL"
Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2006
Thirteen-year-old Samantha's father is an alcoholic. When he is sober, he is a great guy, but when he is drunk, he is scary and abusive. With her mother in denial and a four-year-old brother to protect, Sam writes a note asking for advice and leaves it in the library, hoping an older girl she admires will write back to her. So begins a correspondence in which Sam opens up about her father's alcoholism as well as her crush on an older boy. In return, the letter writer, who goes only by initials, reveals some hard truths. As she did in " Perfect" (2005), Friend adeptly takes a teen problem and turns it into a believable, sensitive, character-driven story, with realistic dialogue. The cautiously optimistic ending works because Friend has convinced readers that Sam can handle whatever happens. Friend, who clearly understands and empathizes with young teens, is a writer to watch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2007
Thirteen-year-old Sam tries to hide her alcoholic father's behavior (and her family tries to ignore it), but when she's pushed to the edge, she begins exchanging anonymous letters with an older student. Soon Sam identifies her confidant and, through their friendship, finds the strength to confront her parents. A realistic look at alcohol's ability to destroy lives. Resource list appended.
(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)