Jailbait

Author: Leslea Newman

First line: Greenwood. What a stupid name. First of all, wood is brown, not green, and second of all, who makes up these dumb names anyway?

Why you should read this book: Set in the early 70s, it tells the story of Andrea, an early bloomer adolescent who feels ostracized from her peers until she meets Frank, a man twice her age, who tells her she is beautiful and makes her feel good. Their relationship progresses in secrecy, and though Frank is clearly unbalanced from an adult standpoint, Andrea believes herself in love and does everything she can think of to make him happy. This is a realistic story with well-drawn characters; Andrea's family dynamic helps to explain her actions, and Frank's behavior, though unfortunately, is also believable.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Abstinence-only education worked for you!