In 1965 the U.S. was committing more troops to Vietnam, Malcolm X was assassinated, civil rights demonstrators marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and riots broke out in Los Angeles. Sex, drugs and rock and roll was the mantra of the day. In Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan, six high school friends navigate these unsettling times along with other challenges of growing up, like having alcoholic parents, deciding whether or not to have sex with a boyfriend, trying to get through school, and getting drafted.

The story is told in journal entries, verse, headline news clips and letters that give us insights into the inner lives of each of the characters, as well as a feeling for the backdrop of historical events of the time. This format is powerful and compelling, getting to the heart of all the issues with a minimum of words. As the year progresses and the characters are more and more affected by events within their own group of friends and in the country, each of them struggles to determine how they will respond and what they truly believe in.

Purple Daze is not only a good way to learn more about this time in our country’s history, it’s also a moving look at how the lives of individuals were affected. While many of the issues were particular to the era, others are more universal for teens at all times. I recommend it for ages 15 and up.

Publisher Running Press Teens provided me with a copy of this book for review.

I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of what I do with Mother Daughter Book Club. com is reading and reviewing books that may be interesting for clubs to choose. Still, I’m only one person with a limited amount of time. So I like it when authors and book club members send me reviews of books they have read. Today I’m featuring a guest book review by author Christina Hamlett (authorhamlett.com), who recently read Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin.

Title: Elsewhere
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Genre: Coming-of-age
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2005

One of the ongoing questions that humans have obsessed about since the dawn of their existence has been “Where do we go when we die?” Gabrielle Zevin’s YA title, Elsewhere, takes a sweet – although not unique – spin on the premise that departed souls spend time in a pleasant way-station before being recycled back to Earth with new identities. In the case of 15-year-old heroine Liz, her life was cut short by a hit-and-run driver who, despite his guilt, had what he believed were compelling reasons not to confess to his wrongdoing. Bewildered by her arrival in the Hereafter, Liz plausibly reacts as any teenager would when rules are changed against their will: she is determined to hate, hate, hate it and spend all of her time obsessing about everything that might have been.

The coin-operated telescopes that allow residents of Elsewhere to observe what’s going on amongst the living are an inspired parallel to the obsessions that teens – and quite a few adults – have with reality shows, celebrity tabloids and gaming. As is pointed out to Liz on more than one occasion, spending so much time being a spectator is holding her back from discovering the joys and possibilities of “living” in the now.

The introduction of a romantic interest is very much reminiscent of the 1987 film “Made in Heaven” starring Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis. In the movie storyline, Mike and Annie meet in the Hereafter, fall in love, and are then torn apart when one of them “dies.” Grief-stricken because he can’t live without his beloved Annie, Mike is offered a unique proposition – to be reborn himself and see if he can find her in the next 30 years. The complication? Neither he nor Annie will have any recollection of one another despite the number of times their paths cross. Elsewhere also flirts with elements from the 1990 Alan Rickman/Juliet Stevenson film “Truly, Madly, Deeply” in which a young woman’s idealizing her late boyfriend’s attributes gets puts to the test when he returns as a ghost and proves that he really wasn’t as perfect as her heart wants to remember.

Though marketed as a YA novel, the uplifting themes that underscore Elsewhere have a takeaway value for readers of all ages. The dialogue is crisp, the pacing is snappy, and the descriptions are breathtaking. I also have to add that it’s nice to see there are dogs in the storyline, too – all of which “speak” with honesty and sincerity about the things that matter most.

Christina Hamlett
www.authorhamlett.com

Twelve-year-old Raine O’Rourke has no idea why her mother suddenly whisked them away from their home in Milwaukee to take a summer job in Michigan. Sparrow Road is a refuge for artists where they can pursue their craft without distractions. This means no speaking during the day, no television, no children and no noise. The owner is a mysterious, creepy guy named Viktor, and Raine can’t wait to call her grandpa to take her back home.

But as she gets to know the artists and the area, Raine comes to love the peaceful days and the chance she gets to wander freely and write stories. She also sets out to discover the mystery surrounding why she and her mom came to Sparrow Road, and in the process, she discovers a secret that will change everything.

Sparrow Road by Sheila O’Connor is a beautifully told coming of age story that I found myself savoring as I read. Raine is at an age where she resists changes to her way of life, but she’s also open to new possibilities. Her city life was insulated, and in the quiet safety of Sparrow Road, we see her blossom. The long summer days give her lots of time to study the people around her, think about her own life, and spend time on creative pursuits. As summer ends, it seems that Raine will know what choice she needs to make going forward.

While Sparrow Road starts off like a mystery, it unfolds gently and satisfyingly as it morphs into a story about family, friendship, self-discovery and forgiveness. I highly recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 12 or even up to 14.

Mia can’t wait to get to her cousin Corinne’s summer house on Long Island. Even though Mia lives in Georgia, the two girls have always had a special bond. But when Mia arrives on Long Island, she can tell right away that this summer will be different. Corinne acts like she’s too cool for Mia, and she’s invited another friend to stay at the beach house over the summer.

When Mia realizes that Corinne and her friends are into alcohol, drugs and sex, she realizes that she must decide if she’ll go along to fit in. Yet she’s unsure if she’s strong enough to reject her cousin and go it alone. Then she meets Simon, who’s staying at a house next door. Simon challenges Mia in unexpected ways.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells explores lots of issues teens face and places them in the world of the wealthy few who own beach homes on Long Island. Issues that come up include teen alcohol and drug use, parents who are too involved in their own issues to notice what their kids are doing, first love, rejection, and fitting in. Many of us can relate to Mia’s desire to be part of the crowd and her discomfort with doing the things that will make her seem cool. She’s not averse to breaking the rules, but she’s not sure which rules she’s willing to break either.

As Mia’s road of discovery unfolds, she realizes that people with seemingly perfect lives can be hiding deep problems, and others admire the very things she feels insecure about. The Summer of Skinny Dipping will make you wish for days with nothing to do but lie on the beach and read while giving you issues to think about. I recommend it for girls aged 15 and up.