Saturday, February 22, 2014

Grant, Vicki. Triggered.

Grant, Vicki.  Triggered.  Orca  2013  122p  $9.95    ISBN 978-1-4598-0526-2    ms/hs     Conflict   VG-BN

In this story of a romance turned sour, the chapters alternate between the two lead characters’ points of view.  Mick wants to break off his romance with Jade, who is incredibly needy and irritating.  But by appealing to him to help her with her ailing little brother, she manages to hold on to Mick and undermine his burgeoning relationship with a new girl in their class.  Every time Mick thinks he is free of Jade, little brother Gavin has another severe migraine, and Mick is over at their apartment again.  Jade’s chapters are told in diary form, and she clearly is under the delusion that Mick still loves her and wants to attend the spring dance with her.  When we read Mick’s chapters, we get a look at what he is really thinking and how his concern for Gavin is genuinely keeping him involved with Jade.  The somewhat surprising ending will educate readers about a psychological condition that is all too real, Munchhausen syndrome by proxy.  Reluctant readers will keep turning those pages!          

Summary: Mick wants to break off his romance with Jade, but she makes it very difficult for him, and the fact that her little brother is counting on his continuing presence does not help the situation. 

Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy-Fiction, Romance-Fiction            --Carol Kennedy

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