My Not-So-Still Life

Gr 7 Up—High school sophomore Vanessa is in a rush to grow up. She fashions herself as the "artistic rebel girl," frequently coloring her hair, wearing a colored bracelet to reflect her daily mood, and selecting clothes that express her inner creativity. She considers the world her canvas and has no use for instruction, let alone convention. Superimposed on her immature perspective is the well-grounded behavior of her two best friends, Nick and Holly. When Vanessa nabs a job at a funky art-supply store where, in her impressionable mind, other cool artists work, she quickly falls into a relationship with a young man a few years older than she whose source of income is fake IDs, and she finds herself promising to pose for his creative outlet-a pinup calendar. As her infatuation with the group at Palette increases, she becomes careless and insensitive toward her friends and her family. Her impetuous actions steer her toward social and emotional screwups and, in her willful zest to be free and expressive, she mucks up more than she creates. Much of Vanessa's narrative is the energized chatter of an overzealous teen, but readers will soon catch on that she's a well-intentioned girl struggling against the protection of those who try to guide and teach her. Ultimately, this theme is perhaps a bit heavy-handed, and the character development is disappointing. If you're looking for a strong novel that represents the passion, idiosyncrasies, and foibles of an artist, choose Gary Paulsen's The Monument (Delacorte, 1991).—Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY