The Encore, fifth in Sarah Anne Sumpolec's Becoming Beka series, starts with Beka in the principal's office. The principal is rebuking Beka for proselytizing at a concert by singing a song with Christian lyrics. But that's only the beginning of Beka's troubles. Along the way to the end of the book, she's involved in a sit-in, she has to make up her mind between two boys, she finds out she's getting a new step mom, and she has to move from her childhood home--the one filled with all her mother memories.

I enjoyed this book. For one thing I like Beka. She's a nice girl struggling with growing up and I liked watching her figure things out. The writing was smooth--not spectacular but it gave me a very comfortable read. I was never lost in time or place. I could see everything clearly and I understood the character motivations.

I also liked the issues Beka dealt with. They were not only real issues that kids deal with but also issues that kids care about. Sex, boyfriends, blended families, obeying parents, freedom of speech.

At the same time, those issues are also weaknesses in the writing. The book opens with a conflict that just fades away after a rather unbelievable confrontation between teacher and principal. Every issue in the book, I think, was dealt with too easily. There were too many issues to take the time to struggle with each one, probably. The sex/pregnancy issue, particularly, needed more space to be treated fairly. I don't want to give anything away, but I felt the players got out of the deal too easily.

It was a miracle that Beka herself didn't end up having sex and getting pregnant with the amount of freedom her father gave her to be with boys alone. And all that kissing going on! I'm not sure the author should have painted things differently, though. Teen-aged girls do have a lot of time alone with boys these days--their parents aren't protecting them as well as they should--so they need to learn to control themselves, I suppose. Sigh. It's a hard world. I kind of feel that Ms. Sumpolec didn't paint it ugly enough.

Still the characters were endearing, I was invested in them. I knew what they wanted and I was hoping they'd succeed. The main struggle for Beka, figuring out which boy was God's choice, took some time and effort so I was happy with that thread. The ending was satisfying. I was oh so happy to find this book where manly, noble love--for God and girl--was highlighted. I loved the contrast between the boy who waits and the boy who lusts. Very nice job. I'd feel good about giving this book to any teen girl.

---back to reviews Home

Copyright © 2005 Sally Apokedak