The seventh book I choose to read was by an author who I have already read and loved. I choose to read “Lush” by Natasha Friend. This book, written similarly to “Perfect” is geared towards a younger crowd with not only language and writing style but issues pertaining to middle school through high school age groups. This “issue” book brings to light alcoholism, a problem affecting a younger and younger crowd by the day, forcing more and more middle and high school students to stare the pressure of drinking in the face. This book is centered around Sam, a seemingly happy middle school girl, who hides a dark secret from her social world. She places herself among four main “BFFs” that she spends the majority of her time with, and who also have no idea that alcoholism affects her world on a daily basis. Sam is hiding the fact that her father is an alcoholic. Her mother, who immerses herself in working out, chooses to ignore the cruel reality that her husband has a drinking problem.
When Sam realizes that she can’t turn to her friends or family, she begins to write letters, asking for advice, leaving them in a book in the library. When someone responds to her letters and a “relationship” forms, writing back and forth, Sam finally feels support. It is with this anonymous support that she begins to feel better. In the midst of things finally beginning to get better, she discovers that she has caught the attention of one of the popular boys, making her own social status soar. Her family is finally beginning to accept the alcoholism and her father resolves to make changes. At one crucial point in the book Sam discovers something about herself in relation to alcohol, boys, and her actions in life. This, for the character of Sam and for the reader, brings to light the choices one must make and the joys or pains those decisions bring. Further on in the novel, Sam finds her father abusing her brother one night, after a drinking binge, he is sent to rehab. In addition, Sam has lied to her friends about the situation at home, and in the midst of her father trying to straighten out his life, she is abandoned by her friends.
This book gives an interesting, middle school perspective on an issue that affects not only students but their families and friends. The challenges that Sam faces are a hard reality that many students are alone in the issues and hardships they face. However, this book illustrates the fact that avoiding the problems at hand will not make them better or even get rid of them. Rather, avoidance can and will make things worse in the long run. But the book does give, although not giving much of a “happy ending”, hope for students and children alike who face similar problems. This book, illuminating the characteristics of alcoholism, signs and symptoms as well as a view into the life of living with an alcoholic, bears much importance in understanding not only the book but the issue as well. I like this book, for the same reasons that I enjoyed her other book, readability and accessibility. Similar to the other novel by Natasha Friend, there are literary strategies that could be taught here and with written for a younger audience, the themes can be easily discussed.
However the issue in this book, I think could pose potential problems with understanding, based upon personal experiences of the students. I do believe that this book tackles a problem that could be more prevalent in homes and as such, there is an added need for caution with attempting to use this book in the classroom. This book does give students who may have or may not have experienced issues with alcohol the chance to explore it, using multiple vehicles to allow students’ expression this could be a valuable personal story experience. However once again we find the main character to be a girl and the male audience may pose objection to a “girly book”. The male students may even have a more difficult time diving into the book itself although the themes or topic may be accessed by, I hope, most if not all. But similar to the end of the other book, I was hoping for a different ending. When there isn’t complete closure in the end of the book I have a hard time feeling completely satisfied.
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