Ayarbe, Heidi. Freeze frame

Kliatt, Nov, 2008 by Ashleigh Larsen

AYARBE, Heidi. Freeze frame. HarperCollins, Laura Geringer. 384p. c2008. 978-0-06-135173-0. $16.99. S

Kyle thinks of his life through the eyes of a movie director--but the scene he's directing is the most important moment in his life and he can't seem to get it right. Did he kill his best friend on purpose? One minute, Kyle and his best friend Jason are trying to keep from freezing in the late fall frost; and the next, he's holding a gun and Jason is bleeding to death right in front of him. Kyle keeps replaying the scene in his mind, trying to figure out what exactly happened. He tries writing it in the styles of his favorite directors--Hitchcock, Tarantino, Lynch--but he still can't remember all the events of that morning. When a strange librarian, nicknamed Scarface, offers a safe haven from bullies and treats Kyle like a decent human being, Kyle thinks he might be able to move on. But will he ever be able to recall what really happened? Would he be better off joining Jason?

The brutal mental and emotional battle that Kyle suffers will be relatable on many levels to a broad range of YAs. Seeing Kyle handle tragedy, depression, and suicidal thoughts from inside his mind is a fresh angle on topics many teens experience. Ending with hope and a renewed gratitude for life, this will give many YAs the encouragement they need to seek help or learn to move past their suffering. Ashleigh Larsen, Teaching Asst., English, Gordon College, Wenham, MA