This novel is a comprehensive list of all the things you shouldn’t do as a teenager. The main character, Gordon, is placed in about the worst situation a youngster can endure: loss of a parent, new town, new school and various other problems. Unfortunately, his solution is to create a whole fictitious scenario that seems to solve everything but is actually damaging to himself and everyone he comes in contact with. In the process of unravelling the mess he has made, he learns a lot about growing up.

This author is a screenwriter, and it shows. The clearest and most moving sections of the novel are the screenplay vignettes. The play-by play of the handholding in the movie theatre and teenage Truth or Dare according to Hoyle are classics.

The basic conflict of the novel revolves around secrecy and the trouble it causes, but that’s only on the surface. Behind the scenes, the story is also about grieving, and the main emotional climax of the book is worth the read in itself.

The story is also about not being judgemental, and not trying to be something you’re not, and several other things we all need to learn during the teenage years. This gives the writing a rather polished “created by a parent” feel, relieved by the main character’s humorously cynical and self-aware approach to life.

A well-written and emotionally powerful story of teenage angst and — dare I say it? — redemption.

(5 / 5)