Book Review by Ann
Twisted
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Viking (2007)
I enjoyed Twisted as a reader and as a writer. Laurie Halse Anderson tells an exciting, moving story. Her novel is a model for character development and plotting.
I don’t want to give too much away, but here is the basic premise. Tyler was a nobody at his high school until he defaced the school with graffiti – and got caught. His summer of public service has turned him into a tan, buff guy. Now people treat him differently and new opportunities arise, especially with the most popular girl in his school. Tyler also becomes the favorite suspect when other crimes are committed.
The characters are multifaceted. Tyler, Hannah (Tyler’s younger sister), Yoda (Tyler’s best friend) and Bethany (Tyler’s heart throb) each bear analysis. The voices ring true.
The plot is a great example of the chain reaction. The protagonist makes a decision, and other events unfold as a direct consequence of this action. Tyler spends the beginning of the book buffeted by fate until he decides to fix the situation for himself. A character who wants the job of protagonist must take charge.
I learned much from this book and highly recommend it.
P.S. The cover is terrific. Who could object to that dramatic right-handed helix?
No comments:
Post a Comment