Kristen Chandler: Wolves, Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me
Saturday, May 22
By Scott Renshaw @scottrenshaw
The title might suggest another piece of supernaturally tinged teen fiction, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is young-adult writing at its most effectively down-to-earth.
Salt Lake City author Kristen Chandler spins the story of KJ Carson, a 16-year-old living with her widowed tour-guide father in a small Wyoming town on the edge of Yellowstone National Park. It’s proving difficult enough for her to deal with the fact that she’s “blossoming” into the kind of girl that the cute new boy in town would actually pay attention to. But her life gets even more complicated when she begins writing for her high school newspaper about the controversial wolf-reintroduction plan, and comes face to face with the high emotions on both sides of the issue.
Chandler plays remarkably fair with her subject matter, exploring complex, sympathetic characters among both the anti-wolf ranchers and the pro-wolf conservationists. But she’s even more effective at using the topic as an entry point into KJ’s coming of age. Struggling to understand her oncoming womanhood and her father’s overprotectiveness without a mother’s help, KJ attempts to define herself and face the realities of holding unpopular beliefs in a world of polarized perspectives. With the skill of a veteran, a first-time novelist combines a young girl’s first love and growing social consciousness into a keenly observed, suspenseful tale that’s both wild and richly human.
Kristen Chandler: Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me @ The King’s English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, 801- 484-9100, May 22, 2 p.m. KingsEnglish.com
Speaking of The Essentials
-
Brandon Mull: Beyonders
Thursday April 14 @ The King’s English Bookshop
- Apr 14, 2011
-
The Perfect Fit
Through April 3 @ Kimball Art Center
- Mar 31, 2011
-
Utah St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
On Saturday, March 12, the Hibernian Society of Utah's traditional Salt Lake City downtown St. Patrick's Day parade winds through the Gateway from 400 West and 200 North beginning at 10 a.m. ...
- Mar 11, 2011
- More »
More by Scott Renshaw
-
CHALLENGERS feature movie review
Zendaya centers a romantic triangle with a unique relationship spin
- Apr 24, 2024
-
Film Reviews: New Releases for April 19
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Abigail, The Beast, Hard Miles, Sasquatch Sunset and more
- Apr 19, 2024
-
Feature film review: THE BEAST
A filmmaker's compelling ideas get a bit tangled in references to his creative influences.
- Apr 17, 2024
- More »
Latest in Entertainment Picks
Readers also liked…
-
THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR MAR 14 - 20
St. Patrick's Day, Bored Teachers Comedy Tour, Downy Doxey-Marshall: Bloom and Laura Sharp Wilson: Gilding the Lily: A Choreography , and more.
- Mar 13, 2024
