Addison Blakely

November 21, 2011
Sixteen-year-old Addison Blakely is a little stuck with her identity: she’s a preacher’s kid. Her BFF Claire goes hostile on her, jealous that Addison is the object of attention from the football player Claire’s interested in but Addison is not. Addison wants the bad boy next door, Wes, dressed for a casting call of Rebel Without a Cause, complete with motorcycle, leather jacket, and a blonde girlfriend who favors belly-baring tops. Meanwhile, Addison’s widowed pastor dad learns that his old high school girlfriend is now Addison’s new English teacher, making Addison a shoo-in for merciless teasing as teacher’s pet. Add Marta, a German exchange student; Luke, yet another guy enamored of Addison; a high school talent show; a heaping helping of teen hormones; shake and stir. In her YA debut, St. Amant (Fireman Dad) adds a little too much stereotypical sugar (how much ice cream can Addison eat?) and a few too many Serious Issues (alcoholism, family dysfunction, bulimia). Despite all that, the central dyad of Addison and Wes is rendered with a psychologically astute hand, crisp pacing, and just the right amount of Christian sugar: character is built, not found ready-made on a page in the Bible, and temptation really is tempting. Good for teens (and anyone who ever fell for a rebel). Ages 12–up. Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray.