Scribbler of Dreams

Drawing on the all-too-familiar theme of young lovers from warring families, Pearson (David v. God) recounts the relationship between Kaitlin, a high school senior who keeps a journal, and her more well-to-do artist-boyfriend, Bram. Borrowed diaries reveal to Kaitlin that the two California families are related five generations back, when two sisters became estranged as the result of a marital infidelity. More recently, Kaitlin's father is accused of killing Bram's father, perhaps accidentally, in a feud over rights to their neighboring properties and, further straining credibility, Kaitlin manages to win Bram over by concealing her identity. The whole maudlin tale is never fully sorted out and, in a highly unlikely denouement, Kaitlin gives a confused speech to her class about escaping the past and being honest. This seems to win back Bram, who says, ""I never did care much for history."" The story also suffers from repetitiveness (readers are reminded many times that Kaitlin is a ""proud Malone"") and the writing is filled with platitudes and clich d writing (""my footsteps kept time with my beating heart""). Heavy on formula, it seems more like a romance novel than a trenchant adolescent love story. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)