Adrian and the Tree of Secrets

Gr 7 Up—According to a study published in 2011 by Dr. Mark Hatzenbuehller, gay teens who lack the support of their community are five times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. The work's small French town provides an accurate backdrop for the story of a questioning young man in a repressive environment. Marie Caillou's illustrations echo the Art Deco movement. Adrian is bound by the expectations of his mother, the priests and nuns at the Catholic school he attends, and the small town in which he lives until an accident on the rugby field in PE takes him from bullied outcast to secret love interest of the star player, Jeremy. When the two are discovered, Jeremy is quick to distance himself from Adrian. It is possible that something was lost in the translation from the original French to this English version; the end result is a series of episodes that seem to suggest a strong dislike of the Catholic church and its influence, rather than a deeper, more nuanced character exploration that is hinted at in Adrian's conversations about philosophy. An admirable topic, but lacking in execution.—Jodeana Kruse, R. A. Long High School, WA