|
|
3.0étoiles sur 5
Newberry award-winning authors were once kids, too, Jui 24 2004
Could this be why Jerry Spinelli knows today's teens so very well? Perhaps. Upon my first reading of this in the 6th grade, I questioned that.JASON AND MARCELINE, Spinelli's 1986 novel, basically takes place in the world of high school. Jason and the girl he'd like to be more than just friends with, Marceline, are entering the doors as 9th grade freshmen. He just wants to fit in and survive, while Marceline really couldn't care less about conformity. In fact, she is the epitome of a nonconformist, with her trombone-playin', sunglasses-wearin' self in a place where boys have boob radars and appear to only think with their penises. While Marceline is content as is, Jason, a good friend since the 7th grade, is not as pleased. Soon, they do become more than just friends. But even before they begin dating, Jason keeps on attempting to change the person Marceline is. Her quirks, which I found endearing, make some stare and comment. Jason knows this, which is why he so desperately wants to change her. He also wants to go further than she'd like, even though she isn't comfortable with it. Yet. But Jason is growing impatient with just kissing. He's also a tad irked that she won't permit him to hickey her neck with blueish-purplish splotches as some girls do. And that's because Marceline isn't just "some girl". Evidently. :) She doesn't want to be branded like a cow. She is an individualist, the rare girl in the screwy high school world who does as she wishes and says what she thinks no matter what the passerby say. Eventually, she rejects Jason, who places himself on the rebound and takes up a meaningless fling with a naive chic who claims to "love" him after Frenching behind a Wawa dumpster. That proverbial "love" thing lasts for about 15 days or fewer. Jason realizes he prefers Marceline's company to the companionship of other girls. Now, he must try and win her back. To do that, can he put aside his ego and hormones? Can he learn to accept both others and himself? Can he love Marceline, quirks and all? Maybe, maybe not. From some heavy spying, Jason can see that she has moved on in terms of her love life. He, from a clandestine location, spots her kissing her date. On impulse, he reacts, screaming loudly and maniacally. Spinelli's adolescent novel is laced with humor and raunch, yet is also ostensibly falls into the coming-of-age genre. Like CRASH, the main character undergoes a transformation and comes out more mature and self-aware, as well more aware of his surroundings and the needs of others. The depiction of the high school world is accurate. Skeptical and complaining 'rents, deal with it. Guys are often even ruder and cruder in real life, hence Melvin Burgess' DOING IT. But these characters are poignant and real as well. So the novel, overall, is able to find a comfy balance and provide many laughs along the way. Worthwhile, despite the fact that the reading level and audience it is aimed at totally do not match up.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
 
|
|
|
|
