Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer

After all the hype, this was more than a slight disappointment.  I had to ask myself, “If there hadn’t been so much press about it, would I have been disappointed?”  I am not sure, but I will say that there is a big reveal that is akin to the whole “it was all a dream” plot line from the original Dallas series, for those of you old enough to remember it.  Definitely anti-climactic and gimmicky in my opinion.  Here are the basics, without giving away too much (or is it too late?):  Jam (possibly the most ridiculous character name ever) has been sent to a special school for emotionally disturbed teens.  Internet, cell phones, etc.  are not allowed except during designated times.  Students actually use a payphone to call home.  How quaint.  All the students at the school are there because of some personal or family tragedy with which they are having difficulty dealing.  Jam is selected to participate in an elite English class, the members of which receive special journals to use during the semester.  When the students write in the journals, they are transported (it seems just mentally) back to a time before their tragedy.  They decide to call the place they go Belzhar, after The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, which is the major work they are reading for the semester.  The students in the special course become close during their semester and each in turn is able to share his or her tragedy and in some cases learn to get past it.  Jam, however, does not share what has happened to her, and it is with good reason, as the reader will find out.  This reader became more than a little annoyed at her reticence and the reason for it. 

The other thing I find objectionable about this book is the heavy-handedness of the lesson.  There is a part near the end, where the reader is treated to a fairly long didactic passage about the value of literature.  Ahem, but the value of literature is in being able to teach with a good story and engaging characters, not a diatribe. Overall, this is a mediocre offering, which is probably slightly better than the average YA book.  Not exactly the award-winning masterpiece I was expecting.  Is it just me, or is the bar getting lower all the time?

June’s Rating:

Language—R;  Nudity—PG;  Sexual Content—PG13;  GLBT Content—PG 13;  Violence—PG;  Substance Abuse—PG;  Adult Themes—PG for eating disorders

Robin’s Comments:

Though it doesn’t live up to the hype, it is serviceable for readers, primarily girls, who like to read sad books.  For a better treatment of imaginary worlds and a WAY better story, recommend A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.