Welcome to the Slipstream

May 29, 2017
Seventeen-year-old Van Lowell feels out of her depth after being whisked to yet another city by her mother, Sofia, who runs a consulting business and manages her manic and depressive episodes—both with mixed results. Van, Sofia, and Van’s longtime nanny, Ida, have just moved from Uzbekistan to Las Vegas, where Sofia will be working with a local casino and hotel. Having been out of medication for weeks, Sofia almost immediately quarantines herself in the hotel, and Van finds a needed outlet by joining a band with her new friend and crush, Alex. After Sofia disappears into the desert with her “astrotherapist” on a spiritual mission, Van heads to Sedona to track her down. The psychological pressures Van is under are deeply felt as she worries that she will become like her mother and struggles to adapt to her family’s fluctuating circumstances. While the detour into the realm of cults and con artists makes for a slightly disjointed narrative, Burian sensitively investigates the complexities of caring for someone who has no desire to be saved. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kate Johnson, Wolf Literary Services.

April 1, 2017
A teen with a mother as unpredictable as she is ingenious must learn to stand up for herself in this Las Vegas-based exploration of identity and family.Vanessa "Van" Lowell has her own definition of normal. Normal is following her mother, Sofia--a consultant who is equal parts intelligent and eccentric--to remote, far-flung destinations around the globe. Normal is living with her beloved former nanny, Ida: her rock. Normal is being cocooned in their strange, sturdy family and not needing anyone else. But when they move to the Silver Saddle hotel for Sofia's latest job, everything changes. The white 17-year-old makes her first-ever friend (and maybe more) and joins a band, discovering the rush that comes from performing live. But with a mother like hers, stability can't last long--especially when Sofia's astrotherapist convinces her to partake in a spiritual mission in Sedona. Beginning as a humorous "new girl in town" tale, Burian's debut takes a sharp turn into the more serious realms of mental illness, familial betrayal, and a potentially very dangerous cult midway through the book. This plot deviation is disorienting, and Sofia's character traits may strike some readers as over the top. Readers undeterred by the narrative left turn will be enthralled by Burian's eerie depictions of the Sedona community and left pondering the deep emotional complexities of parent-child relationships. (Fiction. 14-18)

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May 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Van, 17, was forced to grow up quickly in the slipstream of her brilliant, mentally ill mother. Her father died of a drug overdose when she was an infant. Van; her mother, Sophie; and Ida, a surrogate grandmother, have moved constantly from place to place, to wherever Sophie's work takes her. Leaving their home in Uzbekistan, the women land in Las Vegas, NV, for Sophie's job at the Silver Saddle Casino. Van is tutored and left to spend her free time inside the lavish place with Alex, a handsome college student, as her guide. Alex becomes her first true friend and love interest. Playing the guitar has always been Van's true joy and form of escape, and she is now given the opportunity to join a band. Then tragedy strikes. The pacing is quick, matching the constant movement of Van and her mother. The protagonist has an out-of-body experience and ends up fighting to survive in the desert. The conclusion is filled with heavyhearted goodbyes but also hope and promise for Van's future. The mood throughout is laced with worry and uncertainty, and readers will empathize with Van. Burian's debut realistic fiction novel is based upon real-life events she witnessed. Teens will enjoy the story line and well-developed characters while rooting for the strong female lead to survive what life has dealt her. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase.-Laura Jones, Argos Community Schools, IN

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