Slant, Laura E. Williams' coming-of-age novel perfectly captures the desperation that all people--and especially middle and high schoolers-- feel about finding acceptance and fitting in with the social groups around them. A Korean adoptee, thirteen year old Lauren feels like an outsider in her small Connecticut town. She longs to stop the teasing at school about her eyes and the constant attempts of math homework thievery. Even her crush, Sean, sometimes calls her Slant.Hoping to stop the teasing and name-calling, Lauren saves up for irreversible eyelid surgery. She expects that this change will bring her true happiness and allow her to fit in at school. As she gets closer to this big step, Lauren learns new truths about her family, friends and the other kids at school.
Ms. Williams writes with clarity and simplicity, revealing details about Lauren's world from the beginning that hint at the imperfections in everyone's life. Using the motif of photography, she gradually reveals the truth about Lauren. Lauren is obsessed with truth and lies, and slowly begins to realize that not everything can be categorized so simply.
This is a great book! I highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys YA Lit.
