Perfect, Lush, and Bounce: Three Novels by Natasha Friend
Tightly written problem novels that demonstrate a mastery of first-person narration.
Natasha Friend published her Perfect, her first book for young adults, in 2004. Since then, she’s published two more novels, Lush and Bounce, and plans to publish a fourth, For Keeps, in April of 2010. She’s won multiple awards and garnered considerable press-and she deserves every bit of it.
These are straight up social novels set in the modern day. No supernatural elements, no historical flashbacks-just Middle Schoolers with Problems(tm). In Perfect Isobel Lee attends a support group for teenagers with eating disorders, looking for a way to cope with the numbness that has settled over her family in the wake of her father’s death. In Lush, thirteen year old Samantha leaves carries on an elaborate (and anonymous) correspondence via notes left in The History of Modern Whaling in hopes of finding some way to deal with her father’s alcoholism. Evyn, the protagonist of Bounce, is adjusting to her father’s remarriage-and the accompanying move to Boston, where she has to share a house with six new step-siblings.
It’s surprisingly difficult to write reviews for books you like-I should probably be fined a quarter for each time I use smart to describe novel-but these are smart novels. Natasha Friend obviously did her research on eating disorders-the fact that Isobel’s bulimia is about more than being slim, but is a self-destructive method of expressing emotion creates a sensitive portrait of the disorder but also leaves room to discuss drug and alcohol abuse and self-mutilation. Lush and Bounce return to this theme-the difference between healthy and unhealthy methods of coping. Handled so well, it creates a satisfying experience for the reader. None of the problems are miraculously resolved by the last page, but you’re left knowing the protagonist will continue on.
These novels probably don’t have enough cross-gender appeal to make good novel studies for the whole class-but they would make great options for literature circles or independent reading.
The cover designer for her first three books deserves kudos for creating a distinctive look -crisp white silhouettes on coloured backgrounds. Though we all try to avoid judging books by their covers, dated hairstyles and clothes can distract from a fresh, relevant story. Scholastic should be applauded for creating appealing covers that will age well and that create an identity for the author-they should have stuck with the theme for For Keeps-but we’ll see the final cover when the book is actually released.
Reading Level: ~7
Rating (out of five): ★★★★1/2
