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There are lots of books about teacher-student relationships, but this one is different. Because it’s all from Jenna’s point of view, the perspective is completely different. This is not about what’s right or wrong, it’s about a troubled girl who just wants to be happy. And if Mr Anderson makes her happy, is that such a bad thing?
This book isn’t as uncomfortable to read as you might expect. Jenna may have had a messy life up until now, but she is still very much in charge and knows what she is doing. The relationship, as she narrates it, seems neither exploitive nor disturbing. It’s not a story where everyone but the main character sees all the signs, the warning flags, the ‘turn back NOW’ moments. It's a story where you actually root for the budding relationship, will it to all work out. It’s also not a graphic book – you know what the couple are is up to, but you don’t get the, erm, ins and outs, or, erm again, blow by blow account. This keeps it more appropriate for its target audience, while also adding to the delicious frustration for older readers who want more than dropped hints.
Jenna’s story captivated me. I felt the ending was more extreme than I was expecting, and the last few chapters really packed in the action, but I was definitely left wanting more, and would love to see a Jenna, or indeed Mr Anderson, follow up.
Thanks go to the publishers for supplying this book.
[[Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller]] and [[On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves]] have a similar theme, and are equally well -executed, perhaps aimed at more of an adult audience. You might also enjoy [[White Space by Ilsa J Bick]].
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