Would You, by Marthe Jocelyn


Would You, by Marthe Jocelyn, 165 pages.
@ SPL: YA FIC Jocel

One of the best recently-published Canadian books for teens is Marthe Jocelyn’s Would You, which has been included on the shortlist for the prestigious Canadian Library Association’s 2009 Young Adult Book Award.
Would You is an exceptionally realistic account of a tragic event that strikes an ordinary family on a late summer weekend, and the impacts of the tragedy on each member of the Johnson family are examined. Just before starting college, older sister Claire is struck by a car and very seriously injured. Soon her parents and younger sister, Natalie, must make a heart-wrenching decision. Should life-support assistance be removed from Claire and her organs used to help someone else? Should they follow the specialist’s recommendation to do so? What would another family do in such a situation, in which life has changed so horribly in only a few seconds? What would you do?

It’s almost impossible to find any fault at all with this brilliant novel – it’s simply that good! One of its best features is the convincing teen dialogue occurring throughout the book. (Author Marthe Jocelyn once mentioned that she modeled her dialogue on conversations which she overheard between her own daughters.)

Marthe Jocelyn, a local author/illustrator, has written a number of children’s novels and picture books; Would You is her first novel for teens.

** Recommended for ages 12 to 16 years.

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