Contents Under Pressure

March 15, 2004
Zeises's (Bringing Up the Bones
) novel takes a mature approach to many issues surrounding young people and sex, managing at the same time to be both light-handed and earnest. High school freshman Lucy's life gets complicated when Jack, the brother she worships, suddenly leaves college and moves back home with a girlfriend. She initially resents Hannah, but learns that her new housemate is helpful when it comes to fashion and boys—and that's advice Lucy needs now that she's attracted the attention of a cute junior. But when she discovers what's behind the mysterious move-in, she becomes a strong support for Hannah, and starts resenting her brother. Funny, klutzy Lucy is a likable narrator and easy to identify with, and Zeises convincingly captures the complexity of the age (when Lucy starts dating Tobin, she finds herself the confidante of a sexually active friend, and alienating her dateless one). While Hannah and Jack's mystery is obvious (she's pregnant), and some of the dialogue seems unlikely, readers will appreciate the frank and open sex talk ("If you feel like you're ready, I hope you feel like you can talk to me," Lucy's mom tells her). Lucy and Tobin's discussion about boundaries, too, provides a positive model without seeming didactic. While sustaining mildly comic background matter (e.g., an adroitly handled hair-dyeing catastrophe, an ultimately romantic tumble down a flight of stairs), in general, the author gives readers plenty to think about in terms of the consequences of sex, particularly in girls' lives. Ages 12-up.