Spinning Out

Gr 10 Up—Stewart and Gerry (aka Frenchy) are from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds, but their friendship is fueled by their misfit status and their daily pot-smoking "pit stops." When they audition for the roles of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha, their leader/follower relationship is cemented, and they surprise everyone with their talent. Their theatrical prowess, however, masks serious issues: Frenchy is trying to deal with his soldier-father's recent suicide, and Stewart's obsession with sabotaging the power company's wind turbines is evidence of his mental illness. When his increasingly erratic behavior puts both teens in danger, Frenchy is forced to admit to Stewart's schizophrenia and risks his own life to get him help. These teens have much more to them than meets the eye. The slow unraveling of their secrets provides insight into the often-complicated lives of adolescents bent on hiding their private demons from the world. Secondary characters, though less well developed, add depth to the story, and the adults exhibit a true desire to better themselves and/or to help the struggling protagonists. The relationships that develop between them and the boys add credibility. The narrative moves logically to its denouement, and the fast pace will keep readers interested in the conclusion. Religious epithets, derogatory terms (e.g., "faggot," "douche bag"), curses, slang, and raw language abound, adding a realistic feel to the dialogue. A good choice for broadminded young adult collections.—Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, The Naples Players, FL