Framed in Fire

March 29, 1999
Although the plot quickly drifts into the realm of the improbable, readers willing to suspend disbelief will find an above-average potboiler. From the beginning it is clear that narrator Peter is neither hyperactive nor crazy, despite the allegations of his villainous stepfather Buck (owner of Buck Champagne Motors). Buck, however, holds an unexplained grudge against Peter and convinces doctors to commit him to a psychiatric hospital. Once at Resthaven, where most of the story takes place, Peter receives frequent phone calls from his psychic younger half-brother, who convinces Peter that his real father, who supposedly died years ago, is still alive. With the help of two fellow "inmates" (flat caricatures of an anorexic girl and a traumatized boy) and a compassionate aide, Peter makes a daring escape from the hospital in order to learn the truth about his father's disappearance. The story's mix of fast-paced action, psychological drama and family conflict, all spiced with a pinch of the paranormal, has mass appeal. Patneaude's (The Last Man's Reward) one-sided appraisal of psychiatrists and "evil" stepfathers may raise some eyebrows, but will not necessarily stop pages from turning. Ages 11-14.

April 1, 1999
Gr 6-9-Peter Larson's father died in an accident-at least that's the story his mother has always told him. The boy has an increasingly hostile relationship with his verbally abusive stepfather, Buck, and some scuffles at school, but is basically a good kid. While he deals with his ambivalent feelings toward his parents, his younger half-brother, Lincoln, reports having "real dreams"-visions, actually, of events in their lives. The youngster's ability to "see" a fire at a neighbor's house helps to avert a disaster, but in the commotion, Lincoln falls down the stairs and Buck accuses Peter of deliberately trying to harm the toddler. The next stop for Peter is the Resthaven Psychiatric Facility where the staff, except for the psychiatrist Buck insists on dealing with, take a supportive role in trying to get the family back in balance. It's lonely and confusing in the hospital, but Peter finds consolation in an old favorite storybook. One day, its familiar bookplate comes loose, and Peter finds evidence that his mother has lied to him about his father. He wonders what else she has lied about and if his father might still be alive. So begins Peter's quest to find out the truth. Patneaude's story has enough tension and suspense to keep the pages turning. The book tackles many serious issues, including parental kidnapping, ADD, blended families, and teenage depression. The characters are well rounded enough to remain believable. This story of a teen in search of his identity is a good addition for most collections.-Roxanne Burg, Thousand Oaks Library, CA