More on YA books--the good and the mediocre

In my last post, I wrote about Charles de Lint's The Blue Girl which wasn't impressing me with its genuine depiction of real teenagers. Well, I finished that particular book and then read Rebecca Stowe's Not the End of the World . I have to say, the Stowe book was impressive. It chronicles the story of Maggie Pitsfield, a troublewd twelve-year-old girl, and the terrible secret she harbors. In the Stowe novel, the author actually does get the voice right. I just want to hug Maggie and tell her everything will be OK, and that's the sign of a good book, when the author can, with great skill, make me care about the characters.