No Worse Sin

Gr 10 Up—Laena, 17, has spent most of her life with her nose in a book, focusing on academics. When Cree, a handsome new student, arrives in her sleepy Cape Cod town Laena falls in love and in trouble. Cree tells his story of being an emancipated teen originally from Alaska, living and working at a local park. His background does not seem to explain his unusual accent and ignorance of everyday conveniences, such as a food processor. As their relationship grows, the truth behind his mysterious origins takes shape. He is an ambassador from the future, attempting to prove the presence of a defect in ocean life that will alter human existence. Cree is trying to save the Earth from certain destruction. Luckily, Laena's mother is a scientist who manages to get Cree into her lab to prove his hypothesis. Readers may be turned off by lengthy and unnecessary details. Plot movement becomes sluggish at times as descriptions take over the text. The climate change debate plays a central role to the environmental catastrophes in the novel. The author's message comes across clearly, but fails to avoid stereotypes when illustrating the opposing viewpoints. Sexual situations between Laena and Cree are mature and consensual, but a scene suggests nonconsensual intercourse between an unconscious Cree and another female character.