Conversion

Conversion, based loosely on true events, is best described as The Crucible meets Gossip Girl and if that combination seems implausible at first, you'll soon discover it's really, really not.

Colleen is a high-achieving student at a prestigious girls' school, trying to juggle her grades, her shifting friendships and her currently non-existent love life. But when a mystery epidemic of varying symptoms, from tics to hair loss to paralysis, starts sweeping through the school, Colleen discovers that maybe the past and the present aren't as far apart as they seem. Conversion is based around a very clever idea that draws you in and keeps you guessing until the very end. Real or fake? Societal or supernatural? Colleen's story is bookended by the confessions of one of the Salem accusers, Ann, an unfolding tale every bit as interesting as the contemporary mystery. Together they bear witness and fall victim to the immense pressures historically and currently visited upon girls and women, whether it be the inferior status conferred upon Ann due to her age and gender, or the (literally) migraine-inducing strain Collette finds herself under as she tries to navigate society's and her own expectations. I had a couple of reservations: the 'um's and 'like's peppered throughout the dialogue are undoubtedly true to life but I found them quite distracting. I also thought one of Colleen's friends, who had a lot of potential, was underused. There was a random sexual reference thrown in which was fairly graphic compared to the general level of content and, in my opinion, unnecessary. It would have been more appropriate had the book spent any time examining the immense sexual pressure that many girls are currently experiencing, but when it had the chance to do this (a teacher-pupil relationship), the author seemed to back off at the last minute and suggest that once the girl finished school, they could live happily ever after in totally appropriate bliss. Finally, I wasn't entirely convinced by the conclusion, although I had a hard time pinning down why. After reading the author's note, I think I felt that what she said she was trying to show wasn't quite justified in the text. Having said that, Conversion is a refreshingly original, daring and intelligent book that should hopefully provoke some interesting discussion. The blending of past and present is very well done and the romance takes a thankfully supporting role behind Collette's own personal development. Part psychological thriller, part coming of age, part historical document, it is a truly worthy read. 432 pages / Ages 14+ / Reviewed by Charlotte

Suggested Reading Age 11+