Just J

March 1, 2007
Gr 6-9-Jenevieve, 13, is dealing with issues that are causing her life to spin out of control. Her mom has just passed away, her little brother is needy, and a woman, Fanny, is moving in on her dad before her mother is even buried. Just when the teen's life is hitting an all-time low, an aunt she never knew she had appears at the funeral. Regardless, her father allows J to spend the summer with Aunt Guin, a philosophizing free spirit who fixes up old houses with her friend Art and then sells them at a profit. J spends the summer camping in the backyard of a fixer-upper, learning life lessons through her aunt's random quotes. The teen's engaging voice is full of sarcasm, dry wit, and angst while her aunt's voice is ethereal and soothing. Unfortunately, the plot has many gaping holes. Aunt Guin's explanation of why she was estranged from the family doesn't ring true, nor does J's father's willingness to send her off for the summer with a virtual stranger. Readers never know who Fanny is or her involvement in the family, and they're likely to wonder about the relationship between Aunt Guin and Art. The adult relationships are sure to leave readers with many unanswered questions. Those looking for stories dealing with loss would be better served by Sharon Creech's "Walk Two Moons" (HarperCollins, 2004) and Sonya Sones's "One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies" (S & S, 2004)."Angela M. Boccuzzi-Reichert, Merton Williams Middle School, Hilton, NY"

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