Between You & Me (review)

"I don't know if I want to be her or kiss her but I know my heart is ready to explode." That's how sixteen-year-old Phyre describes her feelings for her new drama teacher, Mia, to her best friend, identified throughout this debut novel-in-screenplay-form as only "You." "You" becomes increasingly frustrated as Phyre falls deeper into infatuation with her oblivious teacher, since it's clear to the reader (though not to Phyre) that "You" is head-over-heels for Phyre. Calin entertainingly captures the self-deprecation and overreaction of one drama-prone girl's reaction to crushes (both her own and those directed at her), and the theater crowd will recognize themselves in the larger-than-life ensemble cast. Unfortunately, the book's screenplay format is a misfire, wavering between an actual script and a straightforward novel with paragraphs of description, paraphrased conversations, and scenes that tend to rush through time in a way that wouldn't work on screen and doesn't work here. Given that the book is ostensibly written from Phyre's perspective (she's "Me" in the lines), this may be a realistic reflection of her (lack of) skill in the form, but it's confusing nonetheless. This lighthearted emotional roller-coaster of a book adds a touch of complexity by refusing to assign "You" a gender, a provocative meta-commentary on gender identity and sexual orientation that should generate both discussion and interest while keeping the story's appeal organically broad. It's to Calin's credit that "You" is a well-developed, crush-worthy character regardless of what gender readers assign to the persona, and Phyre's melodramatic tendencies are entertaining in their own right. Hand this to fans of Lockhart's Dramarama (BCCB 9/07) or Wilkinson's Pink (BCCB 1/11).