Okay, class, settle down.  This session of Rachel Cohn's Library is now starting.


This is definitely one of the heavier YA novels I've read, as it deals with the aftermath of suicide and drug abuse.  But I trust Cohn, and of course I was ultimately satisfied with this.  A couple minor things about the covers: the one above is the hardback version, which is different from the paperback I have - however, both covers feature a pretty, slim blonde girl surrounded by nature.  This is not our protaganist, but rather the girl who committed suicide.

Miles has been good friends with her cousin Laura for most of their lives, even though they're complete opposites.  While Laura is beautiful, popular, outgoing, and has a  supportive family, Miles is big, quiet, aware of how different she is from the 75% black population in D.C. (as in, our nation's capitol), and has a father who's never around and a mother who might as well be the same.  When Laura dies, presumably of a self-inflicted drug overdose, Miles's world loses its compass.  She sinks deeper into her own drug abuse, loses her best friend Jamal to one of Laura's perfect friends, and plans to drop out of high school once she turns 18.  The only person who reaches out to her is Jim, Laura's elderly father (a confirmed bachelor of the first order) who discovers that Miles is full of opinions and questions, especially about politics.  However, the idea of missing out with Jamal is the last straw for Miles, who understands all the reasons why Laura did what she did, and thinks she has the right idea.

For a short read (it took me 2 days), it really packs a punch.  Miles really stands out as a great character, and even though she and I are very different, it was incredibly easy to relate to her.  The questions she has about life were the same ones I had when I was her age.  She's cynical, having created a hard outer shell for herself so no one (especially Jamal) can read her.  She's a good hider, which is what she does - physically and emotionally - which is where a lot of the tension comes from.  Her parents are pretty useless, especially her mother (who runs away to Europe to be with her b.f. right after the fucking funeral!), so we know why Miles acts like she does.  The supporting cast is good as well: Jim is sweet and understanding, Jamal is cool and supportive, and his mother, Miles's school principal, stands out as a positive, strong mother-figure. 

This was my first book with drug abuse, but as far as I can figure out it was dealt with realistically - not overdone, not after-school-special.  It is revealed soon that Miles and Laura often did drugs together, which I would think was a hint that something wasn't right with Laura but maybe I'm reading too much into it.  For Miles, drugs are obviously a crutch, a way for her to deal with what she thinks is a worthless reality.  A twist comes at the end about Laura's suicide that I wasn't expecting, but thinking back, I remember certain hints earlier in the book.  As always, the dialogue is smart, funny, and enlightening.  Cohn's way with words and language is subtlely wonderful.

Rating: 4.5 handfuls of M&M's out of 5.

Next for Cohn: Naomi & Ely's No-Kiss List