Plum-Ucci, Carol (2002). What Happened to Lani Garver. New York, New York: Harcourt Press. ISBN: 9780152050887
336 pages
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 15-19
Stars: 5 stars
Subjects: Death, Leukemia, Alcohol, Gender, High School, Cliques
Reader's Annotation
Claire, who missed a year of high school because of a battle with leukemia, is well aware that her hometown of Hackett scorns outsiders, and she dismisses parts of herself that don't fit in: her fears that her leukemia may have returned, her obsession with her guitar and writing dark lyrics, and her eating disorder- until the mysterious boy(?) Lani Garver enters town and forces her to examine her life.
Summary
Claire McKenzie is desperate to fit in and not stand out from the crowd. After missing her junior year of high school because of a battle with leukemia, she is more determined than ever to hide the parts of herself that would be "acceptable" in her small hometown of Hackett Island. She doesn't tell anyone about her fears that her leukemia has returned, or about her love of the guitar and dark lyrics, or her eating disorder. With all of the secrets she has to hide to maintain the appearance of normal, it is no wonder she is immediately drawn to the strange figure of Lani Garver, an androgynous figure who immediately becomes a target of the small town's hostility for his otherness. Her friendship with him displeases her cheerleader friends and the popular boys in the school. Lani, however, forces her to be honest with herself and he helps her confrong her inner demons and examine her life as she wonders if he might just be an angel sent to help her. When the school's bullies begin to escalate their attacks, its more than Lani who might suffer at the hands of the "fish frat".
Notes
This novel skips along at a quick pace, and although it is laced with somewhat unbelievable events and characters, the skill of the writing is great enough to overcome any deficiencies in plot. Readers will be pulled along with Claire as she tries to unravel the mystery of Lani Garver.
Awards
2005 Most Popular Paperback List, American Library Association, honoree
2005 Young Readers Choice Awards, Pacific Northwest Library Association; nominee
2003 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, Young Adult Library Services Association; honoree,
2002 Michael L. Printz Award, Young Adult Library Services Association; nominee
2002 Amazon #1 Editors’ Choice in Young Adult Literature; winner
2002 Best Books for Young Adults, American Library Association; honoree
2002 Featured Books: YM Magazine, September Issue
2002 Best Books: Seventeen Magazine, September Issue
2002 Starred Review, Booklist, October Issue
2002 Amazon #1 Editors’ Choice in Young Adult Literature; winner
2002 Best Books for Young Adults, American Library Association; honoree
2002 Featured Books: YM Magazine, September Issue
2002 Best Books: Seventeen Magazine, September Issue
2002 Starred Review, Booklist, October Issue
Author Information
