Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature

Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature
By Robin Brande
Random House/Listening Library, 2007. 5 discs (72 minutes each). Young Adult

Mena Reece didn't plan on starting high school as a social piranha. However, since she's been kicked out her church group (a result of getting most of her friends and their parents sued for millions of dollars) even her parents aren't speaking to her and freshman year is looking pretty grim. One bright spot in her life is her science class, where she has a seriously awesome teacher, Ms. Shepherd, and a super smart (and funny and cute and nice) lab partner, Casey. When her former friends make Ms. Shepherd's class, particularly her lectures on evolution, the target of their newest protest, Mena has to decide how to balance her faith with her blossoming interest in science.

This is a very intriguing book, and the audio version is delightful. The narrator really makes Mena come to life. There's a little bit of language, but other than that it's a clean read. It's an interesting look at a girl discovering--and living--her beliefs.

AE