A Nice Girl Like You

Just kidding about the title. Anyway, Norma Johnston does a jolly good job on this book, tis one of my favorites, and occupies a special spot on my bookshelf. The plot isn't especially shocking (Good girl, bad boy) but really is done in a wonderful way. Saranne--our heroine, for those of ya'll that are a bit dense--is believable, loveable, and not insanely, disgustingly gorgeous. If the latter must be true for you to enjoy literature, do the world a favor and beat yourself unconscious using one of those ghastly "Gossip Girl" books. Ahem. Got a bit sidetracked. Here's a succint version of the plot, that doesn't give away key details: Saranne realizes that "wild" Paul Hodge has been hated and condemned his entire life, feared even when he hasn't done anything wrong. (Or, people assume he has, but there isn't any evidence to justify locking him in the juvie.)Thus, Saranne determines not to treat Paul as the rest of the world seems to, and (excuse the cliche) takes Paul for who he is, and tries to ignore the odd sort of thundercload always hanging over his reputation. I could tell you more, but that would ruin the point of reading this wonderful book for yourself. Norma Johnston's descriptive powers really are quite amazing (excusing the one typo I stumbled across *wince*) and it's so sad that they're out of print. Even sadder is how expensive a copy has gotten. Ah well. It's worth it.

The fifth book in the Keeping days series, Tish is the aunt of the main character, Saranne. Saranne is the only daughter of Bronwyn Sterling Albright. It chronicles through the last 6 months of the school year when Saranne is 16. She defends the "wild" and "dangerous" Paul Hodge from the hypocrises of her small New York town.