cover image How It's Done

How It's Done

Christine Kole MacLean, . . Flux, $15.95 (332pp) ISBN 978-0-7387-1029-7

In this entry from Llewellyn's new teen fiction imprint, 18-year-old Grace tries to discover who she really is and what she wants out of life, all while bristling at the constraints of her fundamentalist parents. Becoming involved with an older man turns out to be just the ticket Grace needs for her journey. She gathers strength as she learns some difficult-to-handle truths about her family, her friends and herself. By book's end, she takes a surprising stand, feeling poised for a new, and hopefully exciting, path that will be uniquely her own. MacLean's well-paced first-person narrative rings true, and Grace's friends are largely believable as teen confidants also finding their way. A couple of scenes that feel like "battle of the scripture quotes," as well as an occasional curse word and sexual situations help make this a fully rounded tale. Grace's ultimate realization that growing up and doing the right thing is harder than it looks is one that will strike a chord with many teens. Ages 14-up. (Sept.)