FIRST PERSON, SINGULAR

by Vida Demas ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 3, 1973

Presumably because of some young teen sex scenes, the publishers could not place this in that nebulous juvenile category of novels intended for Seventeen subscribers; but these diary-style entries -- all from Pam's 14th to 17th year -- are geared to teen recognitions. The parents are out of synch, schoolmates in Monaga, Pennsylvania (a ""starved animal"" of a town) are mostly a strain to be with, the boy Para loves (and has sex with) is on drugs, and sometimes her only friend is her cat, etc. Para the loner tries to fit in with the Pepsi-potato chips-hair roller culture, where the future means housewifery, shopping carts and crying over your wedding pictures -- the one big day. Loving Greg seems to be the answer until it becomes obvious he'll always roam and is sliding deeper and deeper into drugs, Imam suffers, withdraws so far she's sick and even friendly with Mom, manages to finish school and waits for the time when she'll walk out of the house to the ""big wild new day,"" Earnest jeunesse alternates with occasionally quite engaging reportage on the sights and sounds of Dullsville, U.S.A. -- but it's mostly kid stuff.

Pub Date: Dec. 3, 1973

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1973

Categories: FICTION