The Shark Curtain

February 23, 2015
Strange, artistic Lily Asher has frank conversations with Jesus, and after her beloved dog dies saving her life, she worries that she is growing a tail and sometimes barks and howls. Though it’s not always clear what is happening in a scene, given Lily’s unusual way of seeing the world, it’s easy to empathize with this unreliable narrator growing up in Portland, Ore., in the 1960s, where she experiences very real traumas, including her aunt’s accidental death, a peeping neighbor boy, and angry fights between her parents. This is a dense book and something of a time capsule, presenting a suburban America where Lily’s mother is prescribed a “happy pill” and no one talks about the girl being sexually abused next door. Throughout, first-time author Scofield creates striking images that will stay with readers, such as when Lily meets a blind girl riding a white horse at night, or when she tries to get Jesus to stop visiting her by writing “I’M NOT HERE” in masking tape on her bedroom window. Ages 12–up. Agent: Carrie Howland, Donadio & Olson.

February 15, 2015
In her debut novel, Scofield offers readers an insider's view of the unusual mind of Lily Asher.Lily's 13 and growing up in 1960s suburban Portland, Oregon, with her well-meaning, sometimes-dysfunctional family. That titular curtain-the confusingly thin veil between Lily's hyperactive imagination and reality-is the book's central experience. Like Lily, readers work hard to sort out fact from fantasy. As if some underwater world, the book teems-with dialogue, characters and dangerous events: Younger sister Lauren falls into a quarry on one family outing; Lily nearly drowns on the next and is "saved" by her diseased dog (who dies and haunts the rest of the story, along with Jesus, Lily's imaginary companion). Lily's nearly assaulted by a peeping Tom, witnesses her mother and a neighbor in bed, sees a beloved aunt have a breakdown. Through everything, Lily and Jesus carry on lively conversations even in unlikely places like swimming pools-" 'Neato, huh?' Jesus wiggles His eyebrows like Groucho Marx. 'Did you notice that I'm not wet?' "-and Lily imagines herself transforming into a dog or werewolf. Like Lily, readers may find themselves having trouble coping with the many events speeding at them; sharper editing and a clearer plotline might have saved them from drowning under the story's weight. An ambitious, self-conscious muddle. (Historical fiction. 12 & up)

March 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-In this novel set in 1960s Portland, OR, 14-year-old Lily Asher hears voices. Not just any voices-Jesus (SOG, as she calls Him), her dead dog, and others regularly make appearances in her mental world. She also feels as though she is becoming a dog, believes that she's growing a tail, and often randomly barks. Her highly active imagination is frequently misunderstood. The teen is dubbed a "weirdo" by her younger sister and has few friends. Her unconditionally loving but completely dysfunctional parents try their hardest to help Lily deal with her schizophrenia. Lily and her mother share an interest in art, but her mother's deepening alcoholism and substance abuse cause the family even more grief. Her father "plays the dogs" and brings home more trouble. The family, despite their plethora of issues, genuinely loves Lily and each other. This is a difficult story to read in part because the author brings readers into Lily's mind so successfully. Teens will bounce from one thread to the next, which often does not allow for much continuity or flow. The plot careens from one (usually highly dramatic) event to the next. Also, their family's frank talk about sexuality and irreverent attitude toward God can be very startling for some readers. VERDICT While it is encouraging to see a YA book with a mentally ill protagonist who is loved unconditionally for who she is, the narrative is jarring and not engaging enough to keep teens' attention.-Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 9-12 Lily is different. Lily's younger sister calls her weirdo. Her parents alternate between worry about and frustration with her behavior. Set in Portland in the mid-1960s, Scofield's debut portrays the world through Lily's lens. She sees and feels things that are invisible and intangible to others, including a miniature butler under her bed and a flippant Jesus popping in and out. When the outside world intrudes, it is often brutal: people and animals die, a neighbor boy masturbates in front of her window, a treat rewarding good grades puts Lily in the hospital. The first-person narrative means that the reader never sees outside Lily, and Scofield never specifically identifies Lily's condition or even whether she is considered mentally ill. By the end of the book, Lily appears to be reconciling her outer world with her vivid inner world, but there are no guarantees. This is a painful and poignant story that is not for every reader; but for those ready to deal with complex realistic fiction, it has much to offer.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)