Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature
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Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT -- School Library Journal, 2/1/2008
Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature (unabr.) 5 CDs. 6:25 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2007. ISBN 978-0-7393-5134-5: $45.
Gr 7 Up–Mena, a high-school freshman, is harassed by her former church friends when she reports their mistreatment of a supposedly gay classmate. Her parents are punished for speaking out, too. In this novel, (Knopf, 2007), Robin Brande examines the religious right’s influence, especially a debate over Darwin’s theory of evolution versus intelligent design erupting in Mena’s biology class. Luckily, the young woman’s new friend, lab partner Casey, helps her get good grades as he captures her heart. Tension mounts for the pair when students from Mena’s old church confront her biology teacher and Casey’s politically savvy sister reports it all on her blog. Mena fears her parents will discover she’s embracing more liberal views on God, and skirting the truth to keep visiting Casey’s house. In the end, Mena shares her bible-based perspective to support her teacher’s evolution curriculum and risks further punishment when she tells her parents the whole truth. Kalli Vernoff narrates with proper emotional intensity and, occasionally, tongue-in-cheek humor. Sure to spark discussion, this story is God-affirming, but questions conservative tactics to inject specific religious ideas into schools. The end of the audiobook offers a brief dialogue between the author and an expert on the connections that link faith and science. Fundamental Christians may object to their occasional one-dimensional portrayal, but middle-school, high-school, and public libraries will find few other titles that bring this current affairs question to teen listeners.
