It all started one day when Francesca’s mother Mia didn’t get up. Usually she wakes up to Mia’s daily pep talk prefaced with a seventies/eighties crap song before she’s off to her formerly all-boys school St. Sebastian’s. Formerly because this is the first year girls have been allowed, there’s only a handful of them, and the only thing they’ve offered them so far is their own toilet. No sports teams. No drama roles. And certainly none of those life-saving tampon dispensers to go with their own toilet. Worst of all the only girls from Francesca’s old school who transferred are psychos like uber-political activist and feminist Tara, former slut of Stellas Siobhan, and geeky accordion player Justine. Add that to the dorky annoying boys like burper Thomas, bullying future delinquent Jimmy and smug overachieving house leader Will Tromball and Francesca couldn’t feel more lost and down. But what waits at home will top all her problems, as day after day her normally energetic, slightly-controlling, workaholic mother whom she calls Mia fails to leave her room or even get out of bed, and Francesca finds herself wishing that she was there to pester her in the morning, quiz her afterschool, or even make her do awful things like transfer to an all-boys school or hang out with annoying Will, who for some reason makes her blood race everytime he’s around.
Ever since I finished the exquisite Jellicoe Road, I knew I had to try reading another Melina Marchetta novel. While I prefer the former this is excellent contemporary YA. Marchetta’s captured perfectly the changeable, coming-of-age teen who’s still trying to find out who she is. Uncomfortable in her new environment and family situation, Francesca is alternately shy and awkward or on the other end of the spectrum – carefree, witty, and outgoing. She’s so all over the place that I found myself wondering exactly which was her true self, but even Francesca doesn’t know. Everything seems totally natural and believable, even when she befriends those around her who she’d never thought were friend material. Very true to life. I also loved how Francesca and her girls had boys that were just friends. The writing also amuses in its sharp descriptions and biting dialogue. These teens are full of all kinds of smart retorts and fitting comebacks. In the end however this book is about Francesca’s relationship with her mother and how they are both lost. Francesca didn’t realize how much her world revolved around Mia’s and it’s a joy to see Mia finally get out of bed. While this did deserve a higher rating contemporary YA may not be my thing at the moment and I had some issues with Will’s character and his relationship with Francesca. Still I sped quickly to the end and I’d recommend it to fans of contemporary YA.
