And Both Were Young

Gr 7 Up—Edgy teen novels with weighty issues are the order of the day, with far ranging titles like Sarah Littman's Purge (bulimia) and The Knife That Killed Me (school violence) by Anthony McGowan. This reissue of Madeline L'Engle's 1949 novel (Farrar, Straus, 2010) is as far from edgy as one can get. Yet there is an audience for tamer titles like this that speak of a different time but still reflect the problems that teens face today: fitting in, a heightened awareness of sexuality, and search for identity. Flip is sent off to a strict Swiss boarding school after her mother's death while her father continues his world travels as a photojournalist. Tall and clumsy, Flip sticks out like a sore thumb and the other girls tease her relentlessly. Keeping to herself, the teen is befriended by a teacher who helps her see her own strengths. Flip meets Paul and her focus shifts from worrying about herself to the problems Paul has as a war orphan whose past is full of questions. The two find solace in their relationship as they face their problems together. Anne Marie Lee's narration reflects Flip's pain as well as the voice of a determined girl who has much to offer as her own self-confidence grows. This novel, reminiscent of Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in its innocence and charm, is a lovely listen for those who want to dabble in the romantic.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA