In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey
New Year’s resolution time. I am determined to read and review 200 new books during 2009. But first I need to clear the backlog of reviews.
The best of what I have been holding is Kate McCaffrey’s latest(?) In Ecstasy. In her previous novel Kate demonstrated a rare ability to get ‘inside the head’ of an adolescent experiencing real problems. She can clearly explain the little decisions that start the slide and then sympathetically look at the struggle experienced when one tries to solve the huge problem alone.
McCaffrey has done it again in this book. Two friends, Mia and Sophie, have been friends forever. But when they both get caught up in the party scene, complete with the party drugs, their friendship begins to fray. Eventually the girls get caught up in situations that make them very uncomfortable and struggle to find their way out.
This is certainly an excellent book for 15-17 year old girls. It is a cautionary tale that may help someone from venturing too far into a world that looks can be inviting. But it is also a book for parents, teachers and anyone else who is involved with young adults. It will clearly help explain the attraction of party drugs and lead them to understand why some may believe they need them too survive.
