Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

ISBN: 978-0-316-01453-3
Little Brown, NY 2008
192 pages

Plot Summary

16-year-old Deanna Lambert was caught by her father having sex in the backseat of a car when she was only 13. Three years later she is still blaming herself for becoming the school "slut" and for losing her father's love. Deanna is hard on herself - she doesn't take into account the fact that the boy, Tommy Webber, was older (in fact, her older brother's best friend) and took advantage of a girl who was too young and naive to know enough to say no. She dreams about moving out with her older brother and his girlfriend, but they have their own troubles, including the fact that her brother's girlfriend recently had a baby. The family is completely dysfunctional and no one communicates with each other.

Critical Evaluation

This book started out so sad that I was fearful that it would have a tragic outcome, but it ends up being a sensitive portrayal of a girl who ultimately decides not to let her past define her. The message is uplifting and the book would be an excellent choice for troubled teens to see that things can get better - but that the decision is theirs.

Reader's Annotation

Deanna Lambert blames herself for having sex with Tommy Webber - but she was only 13, and he was 17 and her brother's best friend. Can she regain her father's trust and, more importantly, can she learn to forgive herself?

Author Info

This was Sara Zarr's first published novel but actually the fourth one she wrote. Sara says that Deanna was that rare character - she just showed up and walked onto the page - while she was working on a different book. She finished the other book and then spent a couple of years writing Story of a Girl. It took her longer to get it published - three years after many rejections. Sara grew up in San Francisco and went to high school in Pacifica (just like Deanna). She now lives with her husband in Salt Lake City.

Genre

realistic YA fiction

Curriculum Ties

This book could definitely be used in Life Skills - the class could discuss teen pregnancy and the value of learning how to "just say no" to sex.

Booktalking Ideas

1. Discuss how Deanna feels when she starts her pizza parlor job and finds out that Tommy Webber also works there.

2. Discuss the changes in Deanna's relationship with her friend Jason when she realizes that she likes him.

Reading/Interest Level

High school for both - not appropriate for younger than about 13.

Challenge Issues and Defense

sex, language, smoking, marijuana use

be familiar with the book and its content

refer to the collection development policy of the library

refer to the rave reviews (SLJ, VOYA) and the many awards including:
2007 National Book Award Finalist
ALA Best Book for YA
ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
NYPL Book for the Teen Age

Why I Included This Book

We selected it to use in our presentation on controversial YA lit. The book was chosen because of the "buzz" surrounding it and its many awards.