CHECK IT OUT

While literature can provide a means of escape for teens, it also can

suggest options for thinking, dreaming and coping with real life.

For mature young adults, Sarah Dessen serves up a riveting story about

the ways society sets up young girls for destructive relationships in

“Dreamland.” At its heart is 16-year-old Caitlin, lost in a crisis of

identity after her brilliant older sister runs away with a boyfriend

instead of heading off to Yale. As she descends into drug abuse and a

violent relationship, Caitlin finds herself trapped but lacking

motivation to escape. Ultimately institutionalized after a breakdown, she

must face the challenge of rebuilding her self-respect in rehab.

Issues of peer pressure and fitting in loom large in Carol Plum-Ucci’s

“The Body of Christopher Creed.” Centered on the plight of the

oft-bullied class weirdo, who plants an enigmatic note on the school

library computer and then disappears, the story confronts questions about

alienation, compassion and the need to take responsibility for one’s

actions. As three friends try to solve the mystery of their classmate’s

disappearance by attempting to steal his diary, a hotbed of small-town

secrets unravels.

Margaret Haddix explores similar dynamics of acceptance in “Takeoffs

and Landings,” a story about diametrically opposite siblings dealing with

guilt and repressed feelings. Eight years after their father’s accidental

death, 14-year-old Lori is a popular golden girl who outshines her

overweight, insecure older brother. Mom has become a successful

motivational speaker whose frequent absences rouse Lori’s resentment.

When the teens join Mom on a multi-city tour, the family confronts

long-standing rifts and healing finally begins.

A family breakdown also forms the core of Sonya Sones’ “Stop

Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy.” The

autobiographical novel in free verse examines the emotions unleashed

after Sones’ adored older sister suddenly began screaming and hearing

voices in her head at age 19, and was ultimately hospitalized.

In her newest work, the award-winning teen author introduces Sophie,

who sees herself as the too-tall “Mount Everest of teenage girls,” who

suffers, along with her friends, from “lackonookie disease.” As she tries

to figure out the difference between love and lust, the 14-year-old

experiences emotions guaranteed to strike a chord with teen readers.

Sones will explore how literature can untangle emotions and help teens

deal with life challenges at 1 p.m. April 11 at the Newport Beach Central

Library. Parents, teachers, students and adults interested in hearing

from one of today’s most perceptive literary voices are welcome to attend

the free program.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Terri Wiest. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by

accessing the catalog at o7 www.newportbeachlibrary.orgf7 .