Playing by the Book

Gr 8 Up—In this debut novel, 17-year-old Jake Powell, a preacher's kid from Alabama, is torn between two worlds. His father, nicknamed The Preacher by his family, wants Jake to follow in his footsteps and make a career in the church. However, Jake's dream is to become a journalist, and when he is accepted to a prestigious summer journalism program at Columbia University, he jumps at the opportunity. While in New York, he discovers things about himself that he had been previously hiding back at home, namely feelings for his openly gay classmate Sam. Jake must now decide if he's going to abide by his father's wishes or if he's going to take a chance on his own. Jake struggles to accept who he is despite a lifelong upbringing that tells him that he is wrong. Unfortunately, the dialogue sounds inauthentic; the teens don't ever truly speak like young adults. The flat characterization overshadows the interesting topics and premise explored in Shirley's novel. While there's much potential, the overall execution misses the mark. Teens in similar situations as the protagonist might find some teachable moments within this novel, but otherwise, there is very limited appeal.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH