Review: Not Your' Typical Teen Romance Novel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 13, 2012
From the Chrysallis by Karen E. Black is not what I expected when I started reading it, but that is decidedly not a bad thing. The story has a depth and a tragically dark beauty that most writers in YA fiction fail to capture adequately. Is this YA fiction? Well, that is not as clear as one might think. Yes, the main character, Liza is one who will appeal to YA readers, but the themes within this novel are ones that adult readers will be drawn to as well.I suppose we all like star-crossed lovers and bad boys...well, I do. And while you find that aspect of the story immediately, the repercussions of teenage cousins Liza and Dace's decisions early on place them in situations that are difficult at best and potentially tragic at worse.Set in locales that are not familiar to me, a 1970's era prison riot, for example, enhanced the book for me. I was fascinated by the effect of the riot on Dace and wanted desperately to know if he would survive and what would happen with Liza. Another aspect of the story that was unique was the way that the narrative is carried along by the letters exchanged between Liza and Dace whilst he is in prison. This was a very good technique by the author and lent an immediacy and poignancy to the story. I felt often as if I was reading things I was not supposed to be reading...very compelling and intriguing things.Do I recommend this book? Absolutely. Yet a word of caution is required: Don't begin the book expecting a standard, cookie-cutter-teen-romance-novel. That is decidedly not what this book is. Yet if you like being exposed to deep emotion and situations far from the norm, and being carried along with your beloved characters as they face potentially crushing life choices, buy this and read it...you will not be disappointed in the slightest. I will certainly take note of any future novels by Karen Black if this one is any indication of her abilities as a writer.