title: Teen Angel
author: Pilcer, Sonia
description: Although Pilcer's first novel was published for an adult audience, it quickly gained cult status among high school cognoscenti. A classic novel of adolescence, West Side Story told from the point of view of a 14-year-old Jewish girl, who prefers the dangerous streets of Washington Heights to the suffocation of her Holocaust-survivor home. "Touching and truthful. Sonny Palovsky may stand as a character with other special literary early adolescents: a new generation may find her more relevant. and certainly more feminist than Holden Caulfield or the young Portnoy." - New York Times "Sonia Pilcer is women's answer to Martin Amis." - New Statesman "Teen Angel transcends the standard adolescent growing up novel because of its frantic energy, its unpretentiousness, Ms. Pilcer's beautiful humor, and her genuine love for Sonny." - Richard Price "If knowledge is strength, then Sonia Pilcer's Teen Angel is a valiant introduction to a violent, raunchy young world. The book has integrity and verve." - Gail Godwin Teen Angel was Pilcer's first novel, published in the US by Coward, McCann (edited by Joseph Kanon) and Avon Books. Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Star brought out editions abroad. It was optioned for a film by Universal Studios. Pilcer co-wrote the screenplay with Garry Marshall. For more information, see www. soniapilcer.com