What We're Reading: Mary

Albatross
by Jossie Bloss

This young adult novel delves into many current issues teens are facing.
In it, the main character Tess, is dealing with her parents' separation; a move to a new city and school; along with underlying low self-esteem.
How could she not have low self-esteem, when her perfectionist father could only see every little flaw in her nearly perfect performances? He threatened to make her quit the swim team after getting one "B" on an otherwise all "A"report card.
How natural it then felt, to fall head over heals for a guy in love with another girl, who would never see her as "good enough." He says she's only (good enough to be) a friend to him, which he constantly reinforces by calling her "dude," even while lying on his bed kissing her. His "real" girlfriend, however burdensome, would always come first.
A very interesting twist develops at the end of the story, when Tess has a heart to heart talk with the "real" girlfriend, and hears the other side of the story.
This is an excellent, and compelling read for both male and female teens.