A noted author (Summer of My German Soldier, 1973) depicts the tragic effects of homophobia, with results that are more polemical than literary. Carla, high-school-age daughter of the feisty, liberal librarian in a small Arkansas town, is overwhelmingly attracted to Andy, as much because of his all-American lifestyle as his handsome good looks. She's even willing to overlook his vicious harassment of a gay couple until, in a brutally vivid scene, he and some of his friends torture and drown one of them. Eyes opened, Carla steps forward as chief witness at a trial that results in a manslaughter conviction and probation for all. At the close, Stephan Jones' surviving partner extracts a uniquely apt revenge. Unfortunately, Greene's empathetic depiction of the gay couple and her powerful arguments concerning the role of religion in gay persecution are undermined by an awkward, florid style with abruptly shifting points of view and a tendency to tell rather than show. A story with a significant theme, but without the artistic distinction of the author's early books. (Fiction. 14+)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1991
ISBN: 0-553-07437-7
Page Count: 220
Publisher: Bantam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
An entry in the ``Venture'' series that, in its comprehensive treatment of options, will be equally helpful to teens and to their parents. Approaching custody primarily from a legal standpoint, free-lancer Terkel outlines types of divorce (default, contested, uncontested, etc.) and gives a particularly informative overview of custody arrangements: sole, joint, joint legal but not physical, dove-nesting (the parents move about), split (taking turns at sole custody). Case studies give the information immediacy; emotional concerns are addressed in descriptions of support programs (e.g., Banana Splits) and of what court is like. Occasionally, disjointedness creates confusion: a section on court investigation doesn't say under what circumstances inquiry occurs, and sample questionnaires from such investigations are plopped at the end without comment, leaving kids to struggle with how to answer provocative questions and ignoring opportunities for self-evaluation and insight. Nonetheless, a balanced, valuable reference source, sympathetically presented. Bibliography; resources; index. (Nonfiction. 14+)
Pub Date: April 1, 1991
ISBN: 0-531-12521-1
Page Count: 128
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1991
Once again, a publisher that has found a niche with books for teens who have adult responsibilities meets a need by teaching teenage parents about positive discipline. The core here is an overview of development (including little experiments—e.g., to demonstrate an infant's memory at different stages) plus emphasis on discipline as a way to guide learning and educating through love and trust. Using comments and questions of young parents, the authors get to the essence of child-rearing concerns. Can you spoil an infant? What if your parents pressure you to hit the child, or to be too lenient? Guidelines (e.g., distract rather than punish) are geared specifically to teens: pithy, easy-to-read instructions; behavior that may be new—planning ahead, remembering the nature of infants, offering constant supervision, going slow to avoid future problems. Questions about issues like tantrums, meals, and living in a three-generation home are methodically answered, including introspection about ``too much going wrong'' and options—with one exception: The authors state that ``No one should ever discipline a child in anger,'' but too little is said about how to handle that anger. Bibliography; index. (Nonfiction. 14+)*justify no*
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 1991
ISBN: 0-930934-55-5
Page Count: 192
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
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