EARTHGIRL

After a minivan driver throws “the debris of her McFatty meal” at Sabine Solomon and their ensuing confrontation is captured on YouTube, the Toronto 16-year-old Gap employee and pseudo-Prada shopper with her “grrlz” joins the eco-evolution. Her edgy, conversational first-person narration and thought-provoking “earthgirl” blog (with actual statistics and links to environmental and anti-consumerism websites) describe her entrée into working at an organic food co-op, becoming a vegetarian, organizing a clean-up day and other modes of social awareness. While her friends and parents are more annoyed than enlightened by her transformation, Sabine finds support in self-named Vray (a variant of “truth” in French), a charming musician and eco-warrior. New to activism, love and sex, she finds that all can be rewarding, misunderstood and complicated. And when asked to cross an uncomfortable line in the name of saving the planet, Sabine realizes that real change starts with oneself. This sharp debut novel with enormous teen appeal will inspire readers to question Sabine’s tactics and their own impact on the earth. (Fiction. YA)