Your best friend hates you. The guy you liked hates you. Your entire group of friends hates you. All because you did the right thing. Welcome to life for Mena, whose year is starting off in the worst way possible. She's been kicked out of her church group and no one will talk to her not even her own parents. No one except for Casey, her supersmart lab partner in science class, who's pretty funny for the most brilliant guy on earth. And when Ms. Shepherd begins the unit on evolution, school becomes more dramatic than Mena could ever imagine . . . and her own life is about to evolve in some amazing and unexpected ways. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Brande tackles fundamentalist thinking and the hot-button issue of evolution vs. intelligent design in her ambitious YA debut. Mena, an immediately likable narrator, spends the first week of high school dodging social and academic landmines. She's been banished from her fundamentalist church, where some members now face a lawsuit because of her, and her intimidating classmates/former church friends aren't about to let her forget it. The author's slow revelation of the back story will hook readers from the start: what could this nice girl possibly have done? "I did the right thing," Mena tells herself on the opening day of school after her ex-best friend shoots her the "Look of Death." "And someday the truth shall set me free. Just not, apparently, today." When the narrative moves forward to introduce a dynamic new science teacher, Mena faces controversy once more. Luckily, a brainy (and cute) lab partner and his outspoken older sister help Mena find her footing. Brande stacks the decks against the creationists-their followers bully a kid they think might be gay; they turn on their children; they behave badly in general-but the fluid storytelling offers thought-provoking situations and ideas. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 7 Up—Mena, a high-school freshman, is harassed by her former church friends when she reports their mistreatment of a supposedly gay classmate. Her parents are punished for speaking out, too. In this novel, (Knopf, 2007), Robin Brande examines the religious right's influence, especially a debate over Darwin's theory of evolution versus intelligent design erupting in Mena's biology class. Luckily, the young woman's new friend, lab partner Casey, helps her get good grades as he captures her heart. Tension mounts for the pair when students from Mena's old church confront her biology teacher and Casey's politically savvy sister reports it all on her blog. Mena fears her parents will discover she's embracing more liberal views on God, and skirting the truth to keep visiting Casey's house. In the end, Mena shares her bible-based perspective to support her teacher's evolution curriculum and risks further punishment when she tells her parents the whole truth. Kalli Vernoff narrates with proper emotional intensity and, occasionally, tongue-in-cheek humor. Sure to spark discussion, this story is God-affirming, but questions conservative tactics to inject specific religious ideas into schools. The end of the audiobook offers a brief dialogue between the author and an expert on the connections that link faith and science. Fundamental Christians may object to their occasional one-dimensional portrayal, but middle-school, high-school, and public libraries will find few other titles that bring this current affairs question to teen listeners.—Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

"As if it's not bad enough being ostracized by her church, her friends, and even her parents for blowing the whistle on an ugly campaign to reform a supposedly gay schoolmate, Mena finds herself embroiled in further drama when the unit on evolution comes up in high-school science class. Brande spares absolutely no sympathy for Mena's persecutors, but the tale is rescued from turning into a catchall antifundamentalist screed by providing an unusually appealing supporting cast. There's a classmate who introduces Mena not only to his unconventional family but also to the twin forbidden pleasures of kissing and Lord of the Rings. There is also a decidedly no-nonsense science teacher whose face-off with a powerful local preacher makes memorable reading. Readers will appreciate this vulnerable but ultimately resilient protagonist who sees no conflict between science and her own deeply rooted faith."--"Peters, John" Copyright 2007 Booklist From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.