Hail Caesar

The setting for Ha's first novel, which she penned at 15, is a wealthy suburb filled with bored rich kids whose idea of a good time is to party hard and sleep around. Life has been easy for John Miller until now. At 17, his life is a mess; he's about to graduate from high school with no plans for his future, and his 13-year-old sister is getting out-of-control. John acquired the nickname of Caesar for his ability to conquer women, a reputation in which he takes pride. Then a new girl enters Caesar's life, Eva, who seems immune to Caesar's charms. Caesar feels himself sliding into a situation he doesn't know how to handle—both being attracted to and desiring one girl. Eva makes Caesar confront his shallowness and encourages him to express himself, something he's never done. Caesar's first-person narrative contrasts his cool exterior with his inner desperation to find a more meaningful life. Ha presents Eva as John's savior, but, unfortunately, she comes across as shallow and lost as he is. The secondary characters never fully come to life, and at times the dialogue seems to drag. (Eva asks Caesar, "So tell me,... doesn't religion ever come up with your friends?" to which he replies, "For fuck's sake,... we don't exactly sit around and ponder the meaning of life.") Readers may grow weary waiting for Caesar to become a deeper person. Ages 12-up. (Feb.)