For those familiar with my blog, you should know that it is a young adult and teen fiction blog. It has dawned on me, though, that teens can read non-fiction, and some need to for classes or for fun. So, from now on I’m going to have a non-fiction Saturday every other week. Also, every themed-week will have a non-fiction Saturday attached to the end. So here’s my first Saturday non-fic blog!
In keeping with my crime streak, we are going to bump up our record with public intoxication and possibly a DUI with the next book I read by Koren Zailckas. Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood is about Koren, who develops a need for alcohol at a young age and struggles with it as she gets older. As so many people, the addiction takes over and Koren starts to lose control, and she might lose herself along the way.
Her first experience with alcohol is the summer she turned fourteen. Her best friend Natalie, after going swimming in the lake, pulls out a bottle of Southern Comfort from her parent’s cupboard. Soon after she takes liquor to a girl’s party and they all get drunk, and causes one of the girls to brag to a pack of nearby guys. One of those guys is Eric Ostrau, who makes Koren feel confident for the first time, making alcohol even more appealing.
When Natalie goes away for school, Koren finds a new drinking partner, a girl named Billie Jankoff. Billie is sort-of Goth girl, but she’s smart, and she can drink. That’s the first time she gets wasted, on Halloween. When she goes on break with Natalie to the coast, Koren goes to a bunch of college parties and Natalie gets wasted, which puts her on her parent’s radar. When turns sixteen, she goes to a party with friends and has to get her stomach pumped.
From then on, Koren’s struggle with alcohol increases when she goes to college, and then when she moves to New York following graduation. This is a powerful story of addiction and how it can ruin your life unless you can stop. There are some great things that happen and some heartbreaking moments that are expressed with subtle humor and beautiful prose. This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read.
RED’S ALL STAR REVIEW: 4 out of 5 stars. As I said, beautiful prose and humor. I love the horrifying moments and the brilliant triumph over her addiction.
MASS APPEAL: Anyone can relate to this, especially teens that may have troubles with drinking, know someone who drinks that shouldn’t or is thinking about drinking because others want them to. A powerful story for everyone.
To buy this book on Amazon, Click here!
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