From School Library Journal:
A book that seems, at first, to focus on mother/daughter issues. Tracy and her mother don't get along, and the problem is compounded by the fact that her mother is writing a book on daughters. Slowly readers perceive that there is another issue forcing its way to the fore--the drug and alcohol abuse by Stanley, a lifelong friend. As Tracy watches Stanley become increasingly caught up in his addictions, her inability to talk honestly with her mother or any other adult becomes critical. Only when Tracy establishes a rapport with a retired professor does she begin to recognize that viable relationships with the adults in her life are valuable. Irwin shows the mores that govern adult social interaction and the natural adolescent struggle for independence. More difficult to depict is the bridging of that gap. Certainly Tracy is hard pressed to stop Stanley's self-destruction, yet it is hard to believe that she can suddenly communicate with and confide in her mother. The fact that the parents are less than perfect is realistically portrayed. Most of the characters seem vague and peripheral, and much of the plot seems tenuous, but surely kids who read this will recognize the situation of knowing someone who is involved in a self-destructive pattern. The novel's message is loud and clear, but Irwin has provided a vehicle for discussion and a forum for getting help. --Carol A. Edwards, Buckham Memorial Library, Faribault, MN
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Publishers Weekly:
Tracy Spencer, a high school junior, can't seem to get along with her mother. Perhaps it's because Mrs. Spencer, a bestselling author, has been transformed by her sudden fame; she has even initiated a trial separation with Tracy's easygoing father. Tracy is equally distressed by the alarming metamorphosis of her childhood friend Stanley. She is puzzled by Stanley's frequent dalliances with drugs and alcohol. Drunken stupors, close calls with the police, going into debt to support his indulgences, and eventually resorting to drug dealing haven't dampened Stanley's zeal for "feeling happy." Deeply concerned, Tracy ultimately consults the one person whose advice she knows will help. The story starts out slowly, and the stream-of-consciousness style could leave readers wondering where it's all headed. Yet the first-person narrative is amusing, the dialogue first-rate and the novel's subject matter merits attention. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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