Confessions of a Mixed-Up Weasel Hater

Reviewed by Rebecka Vigus for Reader Views (7/06) Elizabeth Thomas Wenning has captured the essence of middle school in "Confessions of a Mixed-Up Weasel Hater". Samantha Gabreaux is on the fringes of the popular crowd, just not quite one of them. Her favorite teacher, Mr. DuBois, has been labeled a homosexual by the "weasels" in her school. After being accused of being in love with the queer teacher, Sam avoids Mr. DuBois for a week. Feeling guilty because of all the time he has listened to her and helped her, she again starts talking to him. At the same time, she is plotting to get even with the school's biggest weasel, Frank Stallinger. Frank moves away and Billy Drake takes up where Frank left off. One morning on her way by Mr. DuBois' class, Sam learns he's in the hospital. Drake snidely wonders why and Sam just as snidely comments that Mr. DuBois is probably dying of AIDS. By lunch time, this rumor is the pervading theory as to why Mr. DuBois is in the hospital. Sam also knows that he really has pneumonia. It all comes to a head at a school board meeting where parents are demanding that Mr. DuBois be fired. Can Samantha face her fears and rescue Mr. DuBois? You'll have to read the book to find out. The book is a quick read and one that middle school students can relate to. If you have kids that age, read it to see how their minds work

I confess that I found this book absorbing. I hated to put it down, because I wanted to see what happened next. I love books with endings that are not necessarily predictable. It portrayed a very realistic slice of life for a young girl amidst the turmoil of middle school. Many of the issues dealt with in this book will be recognizable,not only to the young adults who will read this book and want to share it with their friends,but to adults who dealt with their own pubescent transitions. I read a lot of young adult literature,as I have nieces and daughters who love to read:I will be sending a copy of this book to those nieces,and saving my copy for my children. I will also look forward to more books from this fine author.