Frank, E.R. Wrecked, a novel.

FRANK, E.R. Wrecked, a novel. Simon & Schuster. 247p. c2005. 0-689-87383-2. $15.95. JS*

Sixteen-year-old Anna kills her brother's girlfriend Cameron in a car crash after drinking at a party, but she was not drunk. Her best friend Ellen is also seriously injured. To make matters worse, Anna and her brother have an emotionally abusive father, a weak and distant mother, and this problem has driven a wedge into their relationship even before the trauma of the accident. This is a story of grief and the different ways people are changed by extreme events and how they heal. It is also the story of the power of friendship and the need for other people in our lives and suggests the necessity of forgiveness for the weakness of others. In addition, it explores the use of EMDR therapy to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Frank's use of language and her powerful flashbacks, accompanied by her insight into the human condition, make this novel rich and compelling, one whose images linger in the memory after the last page. Frank (author of America, Friction, and Life is Funny) allows her characters to speak for themselves. No authorial voice jumps in to make pronouncements. The characters chide, comfort, warn, and get angry at each other and ultimately their interactions are an essential part of the healing process. This novel's themes and execution make it an excellent read for all adolescents, though younger teens may not appreciate it as much as older teens because of its sophisticated imagery. Myrna Marler, Assoc. Prof. of English, BYU, Provo, UT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books