"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." Albert Einstein

30 June 2011

Life is Fine


Whittenberg, Allison. Life is Fine. New York: Random House, 2007.

It continually amazes me how many books for teens are written about troubled teens who confide in their English teachers.  Almost this convinces me to take up a teaching position again. Almost

Samara is dealing with a lot at home, so it isn't surprising that school isn't a priority for her.  The substitute for her English class opens up the world of poetry to her, though, and allows Samara to open up about abuse that she has kept hidden for years.  Samara struggles with the unfairness of the world around her as her substitute succumbs to another bout with cancer. 

This was an interesting book.  Not a happy book, but an interesting one, and a quick read.  I am in the midst of a survey of YA literature about child abuse, so this novel fit well into my search. It's not spectacular, and won't be a part of my personal library any time soon, but it was a good read.

1 comment:

BJC said...

Maybe the story line theme of confiding in English teachers is because many of the authors are or were teachers.