Jordan

Though her first novel shows an exceptional understanding of the emotional life of older teens, this young English writer lacks the skill to carry off its explosive theme: the acknowledgment of child abuse in an upper-middle-class California family. Lettie, who looks as though she's ``modeling leisurewear,'' and her husband, Eric, a financial wizard, arrive with their emotionally stunted 16-year-old, Jordan, for their annual stay with Lettie's sister and family in the Midwest. Jordan's 19-year-old cousin, Keith, tries to get the boy to open up, but fails. Although the author hints broadly that Jordan is being molested by Eric, Keith and everyone else fail to see it. Only Keith's childhood enemy Halliwell, who has witnessed child abuse firsthand, guesses Jordan's secret. After a melodramatic confrontation that solves nothing, Jordan and his family quickly leave town, pretending that nothing has happened. It's clear that the climactic showdown between the boy and his father is still a few years down the road. (Jan.)