Torn
By Amber Lehman
Closet Case Press
ISBN: 9780979593369
404 Pages
“The world is a
difficult place for children. Thank God we turn out as well as we do.”
In addition to
loving to read, I appreciate books that have been obviously created with
care. Amber Lehman, in Torn, gives credit to Jill Ronsley. Kudos
to both of you for creating a truly beautiful book. Torn is a
young adult novel (17+) based upon true stories gathered by the author
during her own life. Readers will recognize the love and concern with
which she heard and remembered those individuals and their lives, by
reading the above beginning note from the author.
I quickly point out
that this novel is erotic/sexy—a dramatized story of a young girl named
Krista. It is an exciting adventure that many teens will enjoy and learn
from through Lehman’s subtle but excellent approach.
It may be a
difficult book for parents to read; but, in my opinion, you must.
Amber Lehman provides a well-written, truly realistic story of the lives
of various teens at a local high school. It could be the school your
children attend. It could be the lives your children are leading. It
could be you, the absent parent(s). With proper guidance and
discussions, if I had younger teens, I would also share this book with
those mid-teens that are the true characters in this book!
Krista is 14 when
her family moves from Ohio to Southern California. Throughout her early
years of school she attended a private religious school for girls.
Krista would be attending public school for the first time. Her mother
is gone for a year, on a church mission in Nicaragua. During her
absence, her older half-brother, Marc, a pediatrician, is living at home
with Krista and her other half-brother Josh—both with whom she has had
little experience in relating/living. Krista dreads starting school.
Krista is artistic,
and in choosing a dance class, she finds she’s also part of the
cheerleaders. There she met Carrie, who became her best friend, and
others. Through Carrie she met Brandon, or rather, she saw
Brandon with Carrie as they were making out in the corridors near their
lockers. Brandon had pulled back from Carrie, licked his lips at Krista,
as if Carrie was no longer there! Quite a first impression about him!
It was only later
that Krista learned that Brandon was gay.
Krista had never
been kissed. Now she was meeting new boys all around her. So in sharing
her fear with Carrie, they decided to learn by kissing each other. That
first experiment led to many other sex-related encounters as Krista
tries to become comfortable in this new world. All of the girls
surrounding her were always talking about boys and what they could do to
get their attention--even her brother Josh!
One of her friends
then invited her to join a Bible study group at her home, taught by her
brother, Daemon, who was twice Krista’s age. He was Aeliese’s guardian
while their parents, who were also missionaries, were away from home.
Krista also attended their church and found it quite different—where
were the statues, the confession booth, the majesty of the priests in
long robes? So much was so different! Krista had nowhere to turn to
discuss all of these strange and new experiences, except older brothers
and friends. And then Krista began to have other ideas about Aeliese’s
older brother.
This story is sexy,
because the children in the story are surrounded by experiences that
include sexuality—drinking, drugs, and what can happen under their
influence; sexual orientation experimentation; early experiences of
abuse; but, more importantly, the sharing and caring, and, yes, love,
that grows between young teens when they have few, if any, adults with
whom to relate and discuss such important issues. Torn by
decisions that they must make each day.
Step into the lives
of the teens you know and love! Read Torn by Amber Lehman.
Reality awaits you in this inspiring, frank and, yet, sensitive love
story. Meet Krista and her friends now!
G. A. Bixler
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers
October 3, 2009
