High School Reunion

Five good friends meet for a high school reunion a year after graduation, and find that their lives and dreams are drastically altered. Jordan, an actress, returns from New York, unemployed and on speed; her best friend Sue is pregnant by Jordan's ex-boyfriend, Graham; Leigh discovers that she isn't the dumb bumbler her parents have made her out to be, and has a new dream in college; and Scooter, a would-be rock star, drives a delivery truck. In a soap opera round of events, Jordan tries to get Graham back, unaware that he plans to marry Sue; Leigh and Scooter fall in love; and Jordan overdoses on drugs. But the friends stick together, pull Jordan out of her slump, and the reunion ends on a high note. This is light readingthe characters are limited by each other, since there is almost no interaction outside the group. None of them have met any new friends, or grown up in any way, or shed new (deeper) light on the relationships. Still, the book is involving, if a little melodramatic, and Stanley handles the characterizations well. (12-up)