Bodett (Williwaw
!) gives a fresh new twist to the age-old subject of growing pains in this novel tracing two excruciating years in the life of Alaskan native Norman Tuttle. In the beginning chapters when Norman is 13 years old, most of his problems are caused by clumsiness, as when he falls overboard while relieving himself off the side of his father's fishing boat. Not so coincidentally, a whole new bundle of trouble starts the moment Norman "notices" girls for the first time, an event marked by the smile Norman receives from Laura Magruder after he retrieves her dropped pencil in algebra class ("It was an innocent smile—at least it was meant to be. And it was genuine. But it was also a smile that for the first time in Norman's life he recognized as being sexy
"). Norman's subsequent efforts to impress, catch and hold Laura lead to some sticky situations that will draw both sympathy and guffaws from readers. As Norman courageously limps his way towards manhood—the "Last Frontier" (a double entendre on this rite of passage as well as his home state)—he suffers some bumps and bruises (mental and physical), lapses in judgment and numerous groundings. If Norman's maturing process is less than graceful, he still ends up hurdling most obstacles and learning some valuable lessons along the way. Readers will enjoy the ride. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)
