Random

Gr 9 Up—Wondering if his existence has any purpose, Joe Campbell, 16, creates a digital diary to chronicle his thoughts as he navigates his emotions about the death of his parents four years earlier and his growing feelings for a close female friend. So far, he has coped with his grief by clinging to the belief that life is random, without any larger meaning. However, the more he considers his life with his adoptive parents and his relationships with two of his longtime friends, Joe begins to discover that there may be deliberate patterns and connections that he has failed to recognize. With the help of Gloria, a clinically depressed potential girlfriend, and Dean, a sexually confused eccentric, Joe delves into his past to come to terms with the lurking memories of his parents' death. The novel meanders through the boy's random thoughts while working toward discovering his place in the world. Introspective teens may enjoy living inside his head. However, some readers will lack the patience to sift through his morose thoughts to uncover the deeper self-actualization he experiences. The narrative moves along slowly, but Joe's character is fully developed. While not as plot driven, this book could be recommended to readers who appreciated Peter Cameron's Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You (Farrar, 2007).—Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD