ME, PENELOPE

Sixteen-year-old Penelope—or Lopi—is a solitary sort who wishes for two things: to graduate early from high school, and to have sex with someone she loves. Lopi’s relationship with her mother, Viv, has been tense ever since her younger brother was killed in a freak accident, which is also the likely source of Lopi’s contradictory desires for escape and belonging. Struggling with the past, Lopi desperately seeks the attention of three guys, one of whom is her mother’s boyfriend. None of her advances pay off, leaving her feeling undesirable and depressed; but her childhood friend, Toad, remains a constant support to her, causing Lopi to wonder if their relationship could develop into something more. Meanwhile, Viv chooses to ignore the past, focusing instead on her young boyfriend and a myriad of interests and carnal pleasures. Despite her brother’s death, Lopi is not unlike many teenaged girls, leaving one to wonder why tragic circumstances were used to justify typical teen angst. This device, used by many authors for teens, is tiresome, but does serve up extra drama for the intended audience. (Fiction. YA)