Fairway phenom Book

PEACE OR PIECES OF TRUTH AT THE PRECIPICE

This story about teenage suicide is narrated in the first person, thus intensifying the emotions, by 17-year-old Jed Lennox, who is devastated by the senselss hanging of his best friend. These coastside California kids have more on their minds than surfing and hang-gliding. Much action and self-scrutiny is crammed into about a week, so the unity of time also incrases literary tension.

Suicide is obviously a depressing topic, but this book reads swiftly and seems almost a mystery. WHY did Jeff's best friend, Charlie--a gifted writer with great promise--ruthlessly take his own life? Various theories emerge as the high school senior is suddenly thrust into the role of detective, coping with adult problems without parental or police guidance. The trail of emotional discovery snakes its way through a maze of intrigue and deception, guilt and despair. Jed encounters a secret girlfriend, a gang of dopers, grief-stircken parents, a private code called Gemini Man and young teens delu! ged by the voracious media.

Jed is torn between loyalty to his friend's memory and the gnawing suspicion that he may have been holding out, that Charlie was involved in something shabby, even immoral and illegal. But Jed is supposed to know him better than anyone, so of course he knew all about his friend's private life. Then how could something like this happen? Did Jed fail his buddy somehow, by not recognizing the pre-Suicide signs?

All he can do now is grimly follow up the post Suicide clues, which have him searching for the 2nd half of Charlie's last message, plus "interviewing" the people whose lives have intersected Charlie's. He learns a lot about himself in this uncomfortable new role, as he tries to cope with grief, rage and his own fears. Fortunately he gets emotional stability from his faithful girlfriend. Jed recognizes the value of friendship and trust, and appreicates the kindness of neighborly adults, as he staggers through this web of horror during his father's absence.

But he honors his fri! end's memory (and figures out the anguished WHY of Charlie's distraught parents) by his relentless pursuit of the Truth, so that The Hawk may go free. Will Jed prove true to his friend's last wish, despite the personal and social cost? How much should one get involved in another person's dark secret, or sacrifice to retain one's personal sense of Justice? Jed is the only one who can free the kids attending his school dubbed Suicide High. A fascinating and poignant read.

(August 10, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)