Be Still My Heart

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Allison, 15, learns a great deal about herself when she fights for the rights of a favorite teacher in danger of dismissal. PW said, ``This modern story provides an amusing yet poignant glimpse of teenage concerns. As a narrator, Allison is entertaining and perceptive.'' Ages 12-up. (Feb.)

School Library Journal

Gr 7-12-- A fair teen romance that realistically presents the misconceptions and fears young adults commonly have about AIDS. Allison wishes she were beautiful, skinny, and ``oozing sex'' like her best friend, Leslie. She has fallen for handsome David, her co-editor on the school newspaper and Leslie's latest flame. Leslie attempts to fix her up with David's cousin, Mark, but then falls for him herself. Allison undertakes Leslie's diet and fix-up plan, but all this is overshadowed by the news that Mr. Adams, the husband of their beloved newspaper advisor, has AIDS, and that Ms. Adams is in danger of being fired. Allison's misunderstanding and misinformation about AIDS lead her to organize an assembly so that Mr. Adams can talk to the student body about the disease. She is finally convinced that abilities count more than looks, and realizes that David is interested in her, not Leslie. Although far from outstanding, this book shows through its female characters that looks aren't everything to all boys, and that intelligence, enthusiasm, and conviction are just as appealing. AIDS information is accurate, albeit scanty, as Allison's grandmother buys her a book that helps her, but not readers, understand the disease and its transmission. Characters appear to be typical young adults, but Allison is the only one fully developed. Leslie's ``California golden girl'' good looks, repeatedly described in the text, are pictured as brunette on the cover. Well done but not memorable. --Kathryn Havris, Mesa Public Library, AZ