I actually had to read this for english class, so this is just the text I handed in:
Abstract:The book tells the story of 16-year old Frances Leventhal, who is visiting the exclusive Pettengill School. In the beginning of the story we find out that Frances’ brother Daniel has committed suicide by taking an overdose of heroin. Frances feels partly responsible for his death, because she was so busy with her own problems , that she didn’t even notice his. Losing her one and only friend, Frances finds herself alone and lost. To make up for her failure Frances tries to reach out for Daniel’s friends. She becomes involved with Unity Service, a charity organization run by the students of Pettengill, which meant a lot to Daniel. Instead of welcoming her, Saskia, Daniel’s former girlfriend, threatens to make Frances’ life miserable if she will try to enter Unity Service. With the help of Ms. Wiles, an art teacher, and James, a mysterious, small time drug dealer, Frances ignores Saskia’s threats and joins the organization. Soon Frances realizes that something is really wrong with Unity Service. Could it be that Daniel was actually murdered? With the help of Andy, the mentally challenged groundskeeper, Frances starts unraveling Unity’s secrets. With many astonishing facts Frances finds herself in the middle of a huge drug dealing plot, unsure who to trust, as no one is who he seems to be. Soon Frances starts fearing for her own life.
Quotation of scenes with personal comment:
Actually I was surprised, I thought the book would be a lot worse, especially because I usually dislike these types of books. It turned out to be an interesting story, although I find it sad that the author kept the book quite short, particularly in the last couple of chapters. The story starts slowly and introduces you to the characters and then suddenly all happens at once and I started to be a little bit puzzled. I really liked the way of writing and I think Nancy Werlin is a very talented writer. She makes you feel with the characters in the book and she is very good at describing what a person thinks.
“He was still looking at me. Looking right down into my eyes. You.
I wanted to take a deep breath, but I couldn’t. There wasn’t enough air in the cafeteria for anything but a shallow gulp.
Oh. My. God.
Ms. Wiles had been right.
I was in love with a small-time prep school drug dealer.” (Chapter 18, Page 124)I didn’t like this in the middle of the book Frances suddenly fell in love, I thought it really didn’t fit at that moment and that there was not enough time, enough pages, to really make you feel it. To me it felt like the writer thought: every good book involves love so I have to do that too. Also in the end of the book it wasn’t important anymore it was just put aside, so why put it into the book at all? I especially disliked the scene where she realized, she was in love.
“”Aren’t you afraid?” I said to James. I could hear suddenly in my voice that tears weren’t far away, but I wouldn’t let them come any closer. I said what I wanted to say. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll get infected? Or that, some day, you won’t know the difference between-between-“ I stopped then.
I couldn’t go on. […]
I buried my face in my hands.
Then, in the darkness, James answered. Almost. He said: “I feel good about Patrick Leyden being in jail. Not to mention his ten best pals. I feel good about their probable futures.” Another second, and then: “The world is not a pretty place, Frances- But I know where I stand in it. I do my best out there.”
I looked up. I wasn’t crying. “Fighting evil?” I said hoarsely. I wanted it to sound sarcastic, but somehow it wasn’t. It was just-sad.
A few seconds passed and then James said, ”Yes. That was the idea. Doing what I can. I can’t say I never have regret, but I’m not sorry to be out there trying.” I thought he was done, but then he added quietly: “Every one of us is needed.” […]
“Saskia,” I said eventually. “Do you think she’s heroic? Successful at fighting evil and all?” Could a cold-blooded murderer also be a hero?
I wondered what Saskia’s motives had been, exactly. What was I had seen in her face as I sat across from her, as I looked deep into her eyes? Pain? Regret? Feat? What had she wanted from me? Forgiveness?
Was what she had done evil? All of it? Part of it? I thought so, but I-I had done nothing. What was that? Who was I to judge?
“Is that what you think?” James asked. “That Saskia is a hero?”
“I don’t know,” I said. I turned back toward the window, and watched the darkness outside the car.” (Chapter 34, Page 239)This was of my favorite parts in the book, the conversation between James and Frances. I really liked it, although, as always, it was too short for my taste. I would have really liked to discuss the same theme with James personally and I thought it was the most interesting conversation in the whole book. Also how Frances thinks about what James says and all the things that have happened. What she asked herself, the reader should ask himself to. She questions what other people in the book may feel and what their backgrounds may be, questions I thought about too.
