Kids and Teen Blog
Paintball and Gal Pals: Janet Gurtler’s latest
by Megan
YA Fiction / May 10, 2013
Janet Gurtler’s new book How I Lost You is out (*squeal!*) and I’m plum happier than a paintballer landing a hit in a speedball match at the thought. Gurtler has quite the knack for picking distinct, interesting environments in which to situate her compelling characters, and this book is no different, delving headlong into the competitive milieu of professional female paintballing.
If you’re like me and have no clue about this paintball-filled subculture (the kids today with their rap music and baggy pants and their paintballing! Gah!), the opportunity to dive in is a total treat.
In the book we are introduced to Grace and Kyla, two best friends forever who are also competitive paintball players. Kyla has a dark secret in her past, one that makes Grace unsure of what to do to best help her friend through her troubled life as Kyla's demons begin to take over.
Unlike a lot of contemporary YA fiction, where the core narrative is between the protagonist and a love interest (swoon), this book’s main story delves into the dynamics of friendship, and how those moments of growth and change in a teen’s life impact both people in the relationship, for better or worse.
The notion of the best bud for women has become something of a cultural cliché. How many of us, after all, wish we could have the cocktails and chat sessions of Carrie Bradshaw’s NYC foursome? The jean-sharing comraderie of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants? (Even if we're not so keen on sharing pants). But what is not heard among all the gal-pal bonding in popular culture is how the bonds of friendship can be frayed slowly from the outside in, ultimately leaving loose strings and a host of conflicting emotions and questions:
What does it mean to be a good friend?
How long do I stay in a toxic friendship?
How can I be there for someone in a way that doesn’t hurt me?
What is the final straw? The red line that can't be crossed in this friendship?
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Gurtler. Plus, I now have the crazy urge to don some paintball gear and go see what this sport is all about (let's just say this Mother's Day weekend might be rather interesting).
If you would rather curl up with a good book than go and get doused with paint, there's a number of excellent backlist titles from Janet Gurtler to satisfy. Check 'em out:
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