Allyson Braithwaite Condie

It was the first day of school at Lakeview High, and everyone was afraid of something. Michaela Choi was afraid that Ethan Beck was never going to ask her out on a date.Andrea Beck was afraid that someone would find her weak spot, the chink in her armor. She was afraid of knowing what it was herself.Principal Downing was afraid she was going to die.Julie Reid was afraid that no one would notice her. She was also afraid that someone would. And there was a deeper, unnamed fear inside her that she couldn?t escape-a fear that she was nothing and no one??Yearbook is a captivating story about relationships and heartaches and fears and ideas and doubts and testimonies and everything that a teenage mind and backpack can contain. But most important, Yearbook is a novel about how everyone has something to offer and something to learn.

Yearbook

Jacalyn Boggs

As first novels go, this work fell in the realm of adequate. Some of the characters held a great deal of depth, while others barely semm 2-D. 

I want to give the writer props, however, for difficulty in writing styles. Spanning the space of a school year, the reader finds him/herself in the head of a different person each chapter. An attempt to write in so many styles to truly set each character apart is never easy. The author uses journal entries, 1st person narratives, and a poem.

The author shows promise, and I believe I will read the sequel. Hopefully I will see some more improvement there, especially in character development.

The only real problem I see with this novel would be the limited audience the author caters to. Sometimes, that happens, and there is nothing wrong with it. However, it means that the majority of my reader friends will not receive this as a recommendation from me.

I will admit my true enjoyment from this book probably stems with the nearly autobiographical feel, for me, I felt as I read. This seemed far too much like my own High School experience. A pack of LDS kids (some of my friends) befriend some non-LDS people (myself and some other friends) and boomchaka... one decides to join the LDS Church (me) and several others consider looking into the Church (several of my other friends.)

While nothing in the book seems overwhelmingly moving, I still found myself moved as I related with the convert and her story. 

This is a first novel, written for an audience that must be LDS audience, for young adults. I am saddened that a reader needs at least some familarity to the LDS culture to truly enjoy this book. There were places where a little explanation and additions could have opened this book up to a larger audience. I still recommend it, especially to LDS young adults. 

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Saturday evening.

Yearbook

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