LOOKING FOR LUCIE

An English teen turns to DNA testing to find answers about her heritage.

With her “mahogany brown hair and caramel skin,” 18-year-old Lucie Hansen has always stood out from most people in Norwich, including her white mum, stepdad, and half sister, Maisie. Tired of not knowing how to answer questions about her origins, she purchases a DNA test kit, seeking to learn more about her biological father, an anonymous sperm donor. On the day the test results are due, a collision at school with classmate Naveed Chowdery breaks Lucie’s phone, which she needs to access the results. Nav promises to fix it, and as the two start chatting, Lucie’s aggravation turns into friendly interest. Like Lucie, Pakistani British Nav is used to thoughtless strangers asking where he “really” comes from. When Lucy’s DNA test results disappoint her, Nav offers to help her track down relatives through a genealogy database. Lucy’s search for her identity holds the potential for emotional impact, and the introduction of Nav’s own family’s secrets in the second half adds a layer of mystery. Unfortunately, readers must wade through choppy prose, chunks of informational text, and stilted expository dialogue to reach the truth of Lucie’s background. A long epilogue drags out the conclusion.

A tedious tale that lacks momentum.