These books feature girls who have significant problems, such as alcoholism, pregnancy, eating disorders, and abusive parents. While the books fall under the umbrella of the teen romance genre, they are more like coming-of-age stories where the girls experience personal growth or find a way through a difficult situation.
Since I prefer teen romance books where the romance is a subplot to a more significant story, these books are well suited to my taste. I love them.
1. The Lost Summer, Joan Oppenheimer, 1977
2. The Girl Who Wanted Out, Bianca Bradbury, 1981
3. Blind Sunday, Jessica Evans, 1978
4. The Two worlds of Jill, Patricia Aks, 1982
5. Francesca Baby, Joan Oppenheimer, 1976
6. Too Much in Love, Patti Brisco, 1979
7. Don’t Look Back, Audrey P. Johnson, 1981
8. Katie, Deborah Aydt, 1980
9. I Don’t Want to be Your Shadow, Deborah Aydt, 1981
10. Remember to Love, Dorothy Bastien, 1979
11. Honey, Helen Cavanaugh, 1979
12. The Great Lakeside High Experiment, Neil R. Seldon, 1982
13. The Night Skiers, Dorothy Bastien, 1974
14. Jealousy, Sheila Schwartz, 1982
15. The Loving Year, Bianca Bradbury, 1982
16. Walk Beside Me, Be My Friend, Joan Oppenheimer, 1978
17. A Summer to Remember, Priscilla Maynard, 1982
18. Secrets, Deborah Aydt, 1981
19. Sisters, Audrey P. Johnson, 1982
20. Why Did You Leave Me?, Jane Claypool Miner, 1980
21. But This Girl Is Different, Arnold Madison, 1982
22. Second Chance, Joan Oppenheimer, 1982
23. What About Me?, Pat Lawler, 1982
24. Who Needs a Stepsister?, Patricia Aks, 1982
25. Far From Home, Jill Ross Klevin, 1982
26. How Can We Talk?, Deborah Aydt, 1982
27. Jody, Deborah Kent, 1983
Wishing Star #1, The Lost Summer, Joan Oppenheimer, 1977
For Susie, one drink makes the summer wonderful fun. Two make her forget her mother's new husband. And three? She forgets all the things a nice girl should remember!
The the fun ends and the agony begins. Susie just survives from drink to drink. A bottle hidden in the bathroom; a thermos taken to work; and Buck only too willing to keep her well supplied.
When life becomes unbearable, Susie desperately reaches out for help. But is it too late?
Susie's best friend, La Dawn, is African American, and part of the story is told from her point of view. Most of the teen books from this time period do not feature diverse characters, so it's great to see one. La Dawn has a great personality and makes fun, snappy comments.
In two different parts of the story, I get the impression that Susie might have been taken advantage of by a male while she was drunk or in need of obtaining liquor. Early in the story, Susie has is uneasy about what happened when a boy, who is said to be a jerk, took her home while she was drunk. She cannot remember any details, and that part of the story is not pursued.
Later in the story, Susie's employer lets her purchase liquor from him. Susie reaches a point where she cannot afford to buy any liquor from him, and then she begs. He replies, "Oh, now, sure, little Sweetheart. You just come along back to the office. You and old Buck, we'll work somethin' out. You just come along, and we'll see about it." The chapter ends with that statement, and the reader never learns what they worked out.
Later in the story, Susie's employer lets her purchase liquor from him. Susie reaches a point where she cannot afford to buy any liquor from him, and then she begs. He replies, "Oh, now, sure, little Sweetheart. You just come along back to the office. You and old Buck, we'll work somethin' out. You just come along, and we'll see about it." The chapter ends with that statement, and the reader never learns what they worked out.
This is an excellent book.
No comments:
Post a Comment