Degraeve?s debut novel, a story about growing up, is told through the eyes of several young women. All are driven to succeed academically, and Degraeve skillfully describes their triumphs and setbacks in the classroom. Their perceptions of themselves are not always matched by how others see them, and this is a source of dramatic tension. Some characters are acutely aware of their own insecurities, but others don?t recognize them. The novel is also a meditation on the writing process, as Degraeve subtly and gracefully describes a poetry class that becomes an important part of her characters? lives |