Film Studies/The Trouble with Marlene

Gr 9 Up—In Adderson's Film Studies, Cassandra feels like an actor cast in a series of Hans Christian Andersen stories. She holds herself apart from her dysfunctional family as well as from her fellow students. It's only when she signs up for a film class that she meets Mason and allows herself to become interested. But even with Mason she can only open up physically. Samantha is the focus of Livingston's The Trouble with Marlene. Her mother is an alcoholic con artist who constantly talks about committing suicide. Sammie, 16, does little con jobs to get enough money for food, but otherwise tries to hold herself apart from destructive behavior, even when her anger and hunger twist in her gut. Then one night Marlene goes too far, and Samantha considers helping her mother fulfill her dream of death. With short paragraphs, lots of white space, edgy topics, and raw language, these two stories published in one volume will catch the attention of hi/lo readers. However, though well developed, they are never finished. The narratives end at what would normally be considered the apex. Readers are left wondering how the characters ultimately deal with their dilemmas. Though these titles would appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, readers will have to fill in the blanks for themselves.—Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL