A review by 23missb
Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson
3.0
I liked this book. I didn't find it overly didactic and although I've read a fair number of books with the main conflict being drug addiction, I've not read any specifically dealing with a teen using crystal meth. Knowing people from my past who have been addicted to meth, as well as relationships with people who are recovering addicts (other substances), it appeared to be pretty accurate in its portrayal, in a skimming the surface type of way. It doesn't deal with the addiction with the intensity that goes hand in hand with addiction.
I know that this is YA fiction and so it needs to grab the reader and forge ahead in a way that will keep them hooked, but I find it hard to not have all the beautiful detail I love so much about the books I read. I think that this book could have easily been another 100 pages. I wanted to understand more who Laurel is. I also wanted to read more about the affects her choices were having on her family. I think we barely scratch the surface of the supporting characters, but I do understand the reasons for that considering the intended audience.
I also enjoyed that the characters were of varied races/ethnic groups and that one of the characters is gay, a subject that Laurel remembers two people she loves very much reacting very differently to. I think this is an important inclusion... the idea that those we care about may not have the same opinions as we do on issues that could potentially be big.
Overall, it's still worth a read and won't take you long to get through, but it's lacking in intensity.
I know that this is YA fiction and so it needs to grab the reader and forge ahead in a way that will keep them hooked, but I find it hard to not have all the beautiful detail I love so much about the books I read. I think that this book could have easily been another 100 pages. I wanted to understand more who Laurel is. I also wanted to read more about the affects her choices were having on her family. I think we barely scratch the surface of the supporting characters, but I do understand the reasons for that considering the intended audience.
I also enjoyed that the characters were of varied races/ethnic groups and that one of the characters is gay, a subject that Laurel remembers two people she loves very much reacting very differently to. I think this is an important inclusion... the idea that those we care about may not have the same opinions as we do on issues that could potentially be big.
Overall, it's still worth a read and won't take you long to get through, but it's lacking in intensity.