Zero

Gr 10 Up—This melodrama follows Amanda, whom everyone calls Zero, through a postgraduation life that is not what she expected. The budding artist is confronted with the realities of community college instead of the prestigious art school her parents couldn't afford without the scholarship she didn't get. This situation, combined with an alcoholic father, a fed-up mother, and a best friend who betrays her in a way she never thought possible, leads to a kind of teenage angst that older readers can relate to. When she meets Mike, a drummer in a local punk band, she finds unexpected love and newfound friendships, but life still doesn't go as planned. Although the book is filled with four-letter words, sexual content, and dysfunctional families all around, readers will find themselves caring about Zero's artistic development, her love life, and the well-being of her family and friends. The real value of the novel lies in its realistic glimpse into the mind of an artist as she creates while overcoming her parents' mistakes to find her own path in life. Each chapter starts with a relevant quote from Salvador Dalí, Zero's hero. The pacing will draw in reluctant readers, and artists and musicians will find characters with whom they can identify.—Danielle Farinacci, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco, CA