The Beginning of Unbelief

This wry, heartwrenching novel about growing up is made up entirely of entries from the journal of 16-year-old Hal, who lives with his mother and younger sister in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Wherever Hal goes he brings along Zach, the sharp-tongued fellow who started life 10 years ago as Hal's imaginary friend and is still hanging around inside his head. Feeling trapped in his mother's tiny townhouse, and torn by his parents' chilly silence since their divorce five years before, Hal starts the journal as a means of expressing his private thoughts. Jones provides his protagonist with an unusually compelling voice--he is plaintive without whining, a sensitive, talented writer and artist who is brash and untrained, but struggling valiantly toward independence. But best of all, Hal uses his journal to come to grips with Zach and to integrate Zach back into himself. (To this end, Hal writes a science fiction epic starring Zach, and discusses with Zach how the story should go.) In spite of its--apparently--intentional lack of grace, Hal's story is as engrossing as the ``real'' segments of this emotionally complex novel. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)