In Zanesville by Jo Ann Beard

The fourteen-year-old narrator of IN ZANESVILLE is a late bloomer. She flies under the radar-a sidekick, a marching band dropout, a disastrous babysitter, the kind of girl whose Eureka moment is the discovery that "fudge" can't be said with an English accent. Luckily, she has a best friend with whom she shares the everyday adventures of a 1970s American girlhood, incidents through which a world is revealed, and character is forged. In time, their friendship is tested--by their families' claims on them, by a clique of popular girls who stumble upon them, and by the first, startling, subversive intimations of womanhood. With dry wit and piercing observation, Jo Ann Beard shows us that in the seemingly quiet streets of America's innumerable Zanesvilles is a world of wonders, and that within the souls of the overlooked often burns something radiant.

The 1970's weren't the easiest time for a couple of 14 year old girls to grow up–just ask In Zanesville's unnamed narrator and her best friend. In this coming of age novel, we see the two of them deal with odd babysitting gigs, clothes, strange teachers, annoying/horrible family situations, self-awareness, friends, brushes with popularity, and (of course) boys at that awkward and vital time of life. Jo Ann Beard depicts their struggles, failures (and even a success or two) in a well-written (sometimes wonderfully so), moving way.

My problem with this book is that the narrative doesn't go anywhere, the narrator's story doesn't end, there's no conclusion, it just stops. I'm not sure the narrator comes of age, she rather comes right up to the border of it and looks across. That's more than dissatisfying, it ends up cheapening the whole experience.

Even so, Beard's writing makes In Zanesville worth the time.

My first run in with Jo Ann Beard was enjoyable. It was like taking a cruise down the old streets and reminiscing a summer of my life. In Zanesville is set in a place I've never been, during a time before I was even born, but Beard's ability to get in the mind of these fourteen year olds was so familiar. With an uncanny ability to recall those years most of us have pushed from our memory, Beard nails not only the actions, but the irrational thoughts of these young teenagers. Beard successfully uses the language and imagery that would come to the mind of a 14 year old during the 70s. The dialogue is fun and excellently crafted.

While some harder issues are addressed–alcoholism and death, primarily–In Zanesville is an tale of nostalgia throughout. Even for those who didn't live through the period, there is a familiarity which should resonate with nearly any person born in the US since the 1950s, and likely others, as well.

As a side note, I found it interesting how often this book mentioned Shakepeare's The Tempest. The second book in a row I've read which drew considerable influence to Shakepeare's final play. I didn't realize this when I picked it up, but I considered it some sort of divine intervention. Perhaps I will find a copy of The Tempest soon.