The Book of Michael

January 1, 2009
Gr 9 Up-Even though he was wrongly convicted, when he was 16, of murdering his girlfriend, Lisa, and subsequently freed, Michael Grove struggles with his feelings of guilt. He shares his experiences post-imprisonment: hanging out with his unconventional grandmother, bravely returning to the high school where everyone still sees him as the perpetrator, befriending Lisa's best friend, and adjusting to his new life. Through flashbacks, readers learn that Michael drifted off the straight and narrow and had a relationship with wild, drug-addicted Miranda, to whom he lost his virginity and who ultimately confesses to the crime. Then there's Lisa, the well-intentioned social activist with whom he fell in love, and through whom he tried to become a better person. While the book takes on a heavy topic, its simple, spare language makes it readable. Problematic, however, is the weak legal premise: that a case for murder could be made because the defendant had smoked marijuana and had sex with his girlfriend on the day of the killing. If teens can get past that, this is still a compelling read with a well-rounded cast of characters."Jennifer Barnes, Homewood Library, IL"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.