Highly Recommended: Friesen

As I mentioned in my previous post, I haven't posted for a while. This means, either fortunately or unfortunately, I won't be posting about all of the many books I've read, but just about the ones that stick out to me.

One of the two authors that has really stuck out to me in a good way is Gayle Friesen. The first book of hers that I ever picked up was Men of Stone. Initially, I bought it not because I'd heard of her, but because I wanted to support a relatively new Canadian author, especially one from Abbotsford/Chilliwack who knew David Giesbrecht! (David Giesbrecht was like my second father when I was in elementary school, I was over at their house every day as their daughter was my best friend. He's an amazing person, and an amazing librarian.)

I thought Men of Stone was a good book - eminently readable, and a microcosm of real life. A good mix of humor, honesty, and entertainment. However, a few weeks ago I picked up The Isabel Factor, and I was blown away by this more recent book (2005). Friesen's writing reminds me even more of Kit Pearson's this time around.
(I've always admired Kit Pearson's writing to the extreme: someone who can take the nuances of relationships and make an enchanting, uplifting, realistic, nitty gritty honest story that means something real and is truly about growing up. Always worthwhile reading.)

The Isabel Factor, by Gayle Friesen, reminds me strongly of these strengths of Pearson's. Friesen takes a scenario that I always hated (summer camp) and brings out all the things that I hated most about it (cliques and competitiveness and popularity) and makes an extremely entertaining story out of it. I couldn't put the book down. And the entertainment is not due to sneaky plot lines or elements of fantasy, but of real people undergoing real disappointments in themselves and others, of the realizations that come with growing older, and finding oneself and the strength that comes with that. What Gayle Friesen also adds is a dry sense of humor and sarcasm that I thoroughly enjoy. Yes. It was yummy, and a worthwhile read!

Sigh. Oh, how I like quality literature for young adults.

I haven't read all of Friesen's books yet - but I will be on the look out for them. Watch out for this author. She's going to get some awards for her work, I'd bet on it.