Heart, You Bully, You Punk

Wow. This book snuck up on me. It seemed like an ordinary love story but became so much more. I had to re-read the ending the morning after I'd finished it just to be sure Esker did what she did.

Ann James is a teenager who has broken both her heels in a disturbing way. She is being tutored at home by her favourite teacher, Esker. Ann's parents are long separated, but still married. Her father, Wally and Esker fall in love. The private school were Esker works threatens to fire her for an inapproiate relationship with a married parent, and Esker must make a decision. Sounds like a beach read...chick lit, right? But it isn't. It's deeper.

The reviewer who posted before me wrote that she thought "Esker, might grow and chose to be a different show more person. She might step outside her comfort zone and chose to be happy and live life. But does she?" I say that's exactly what she did. She left her ghosts behind, and the safe job and home she'd known ever since graduation. She is becoming a new person, but not without a cost to herself and others. show less

A very sad ending to an interesting book. You really think that the main character, Esker, might grow and chose to be a different person. She might step outside her comfort zone and chose to be happy and live life. But does she?