Miller, Mary Beth. On the Head of A Pin.

MILLER, Mary Beth. On the head of a pin. Penguin, Dutton. 288p. c2006. 0-525-47736-5. $16.99. S

Helen is the homecoming queen, cosseted by her parents and loved by all the students in the small school she attends; but she is in love with Michael, an artist, and the son of a poor man. Her parents don't approve, and the couple must sneak away at parties to make love and be together. One fatal evening, a drunk boy at a party plays with a gun and accidentally shoots Helen in the chest while her lover sleeps in the next room. The few remaining partygoers attempt to cover up by hiding her body, with psychologically devastating results for all. Michael becomes the chief suspect. Conscience eats away at one of the witnesses, who already blames himself for the tragic accident that left his sister in a coma. And the shooter's soul hangs in the balance.

This is a book that asks big questions: "If I had acted differently, would this bad thing have happened?" On the other hand, "If I acted differently, would this good thing have happened?" It also brings up religious themes: "How much can we rely on God, or on conscience, or friendship, or true love to make us safe?" All of these questions turn on the head of a pin. One message is implicit: young people need adults in their lives to act as worthy role models. Mature themes and a dark resolution make this book best for older teens. Myrna Marler, Assoc. Prof. of English, BYU, Provo, UT