Dec 30 2008
Book Review: Catholic, Reluctantly
Catholic, Reluctantlyby Christian M. Frank is the first book in a series called John Paul 2 High. Seven teens form a brand-new Catholic high school in a decrepit building. In some respects, it’s a simple story: boy meets girl, boy and girl embrace their faith (and perhaps each other – but this is NOT a kissing book).
There are also subplots involving a sabateur out to destroy the fledging school, a sinister classmate who is brilliant yet cruel, a gun-toting masked man, and wrestling team rivalry. And that’s not counting the crickets… which I wouldn’t even attempt with a calculator.
Like most children’s books with multiple characters, the adults are reduced to a single dimension. A few teens are distinguished by their role rather than their personalities; for example, the Innocuously- Bad Girl who dresses to impress boys. (I will admit, however, that my favorite character is prankster JP, the Trickster character.)
The main characters are fleshed out more. George Peterson, the male protagonist, is particularly appealing, especially in his attempts to protect his friend Colin. The author also captures the internal conflict between following the Catholic faith and trying to fit in.
A couple of notable elements set Catholic, Reluctantly apart from other young adult literature. One is the use of photos as a preface to each chapter. No credits explain who stepped in to play the characters, but they capture the mood of each chapter and look like they had a blast. The other is text-messaging within the story. The female protagonist Allie Weaver texts often, which helps the reader quickly understand the tug-of-war she feels between her old and new friends.
My main criticism of the Catholic, Reluctantly is that the writing is uneven. One effective bit is a poem Allie recalls as she considers what it means to really live her faith. Likewise, a scene in which George was trapped by his rival was truly suspenseful.
However, the relationship between Allie and her boyfriend was unrealistic (and not because it’s a non-kissing book). Neither he nor other antagonists have redeeming qualities. This is no small flaw because, for example, the brilliant student is so uncharitable and so mean that little short of demonic possession can explain his behavior. I hope the author shows more of his humanity in the next books.
Because this is the first book in the series, several questions are left unanswered: Who is the sabateur? Why was Allie threatened – and by whom? Some of the answers seem fairly obvious – but no doubt there will be red herrings and twists for the next volume.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Catholic, Reluctantly.
