Jek/Hyde

Gr 9 Up—This update of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde includes diverse characters, drug use, and bioethics. Lulu Gutierrez, a teen computer hacker, lives in a small Illinois town where most of the residents work for London Chem, a large scientific research facility described as "Big Farm meets Big Pharm." Her best friend Jek, aka Jayesh Emerson Kapoor, the only half Indian, half Black kid in town, is a chemistry genius who concocts experimental hallucinogenic drugs for his friends. When Jek's buddy Hyde, a mysterious new guy in town, starts violently lashing out at parties, Lulu grows increasingly worried about Jek's connection to him. Ross retains the basic plot of Robert Louis Stevenson's story and modernizes it with racially diverse characters and details of Hyde's sexual exploits that were only implied in the original Victorian version. Tension between the upper class children of London Chem scientists and those of the lower class workers who develop health issues from exposure to the company's chemicals adds depth to the story. Teens who enjoy suspense and horror will gravitate toward this fast-paced page-turner. For a different interpretation, they may want to check out Chandler Baker's Teen Hyde. Better yet, hand them Stevenson's classic along with this one.