It was different this time; we weren't acting on a dare. I knew our motive; we were practicing the act, hoping to impress the right boy when it came time. But then something happened in the mix of the moment, in the mix of the alcohol. It wasn't planned, but somehow our kissing experiment turned into something else. Things went further . . . and once they had, once I returned to earth from the euphoria . . . I wrestled with my feelings at that frank realization, questioning whether our said objective was entirely true. When fourteen-year old Krista McKinley transfers from Catholic school in Ohio to California's public Crestmount High, she discovers she has a lot to learn. Luckily, she is befriended by Carrie and Brandon and things start to look up. But when a simple dare tests Krista's values, it sends her entire world spiraling into a confusing series of events that leaves her questioning her identity as well as the people around her. AWARDS: WINNER - 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards - GLBT category, 2010 Lambda Literary Finalist - Bisexual Fiction Foreward's Book of the Year 2011 - Silver Award REVIEWS: A radical shift in environment changes one's world. Torn is the story of Krista McKinley, a Catholic school student who is sent to a public high school by her family. As she finds new friends, her world and her values will still be roughly tested. Torn is an intriguing coming of age story that many teenagers will relate to. ----Midwest Book Review One of the most difficult periods in a person's life is spent in high school, and TORN, through its excellent character portrayals reinforce just how difficult those few years can be. As a new student, Krista McKinley is deluged with easy opportunities to experiment with alcohol, drugs and sex. This fourteen year old protagonist faces them head on and makes adult decisions much earlier than she should have to. She emerges knowing a lot more than she did in the beginning: that being true to be true to yourself may not please all of the people all of the time. I was reminded of the TV series My So Called Life, which was a big hit, as I fully expect this book to be. ----E. Elkinson, Wise Owl Book Review
