Maisy May, by Naomi Kramer

Maisy May is not your typical good Christian girl.  She dresses like a goth, swears like a sailor, and would rather work on cars than shop at the mall.  She never really deeply contemplates issues of her faith until she meets Mark, who starts out her friend, becomes her lover, breaks her heart, and will be forever tied to her.  High school, sex, and church.  No wonder Maisy May is miserable.

I have to say, I thought this book was hilarious.  It is a very tongue in cheek portrayal of high school romance and all the fumbles that come along with it.  Maisy's character is so endearing.  She is a bit of an outcast, and that status increases as the story unfolds.  Who among us has not felt the same way in our youth?  And one can not help but feel a little bit of sympathy for Mark, who is clearly very confused (again who isn't in high school).

I like that Maisy really wrestles with how her faith views certain social issues, and how she is treated by her church when she is deemed a "sinner".  This is a very honest portrayal, done in a way that makes us smile a bit to  help take the sting away.  If you ever saw and liked the movie "Saved" you will most certainly like this book!

While the content revolves around high school and teenagers, this may not be a book that you want your teen reading, as it does contain some profanity and sexuality (but hey there is a disclaimer right up front in the book; you know what you are in for).  However, this is the reality within high school environments, so it may be a good way to open communication between you and your teens if you both read the book.  Also, the book is set in Australia, but other than some slang and cultural references that went over my head, it did not phase me.  High school is high school no matter where you are I suspect.

All in all, I thought the book was brilliant, and I will probably read it again in the future.


I won a copy of this book from a contest sponsored by the author.