When I was a girl, I had a little bit of a crush.
His name was John Fell, and all I really wanted to be was Keats, Fell’s sassy, wealthy girlfriend with whom he fooled around with in the back of his dead dad’s car next to the ocean.
Okay, so I was twelve. But upon a re-read, I consider this to be one of the more under-appreciated young adult books out there. It was published in 1987 (I was two!) which was a little bit of a dead period for the genre, I think, but this one is good I promise.
John Fell lives in a beach town where the only people who live year round are either insanely wealthy or just scraping by. After his father, Fell and his mother and little sister Jazzy are definitely rooted in the latter. But somehow, Fell has landed himself a girl who lives in an estate so large it has it’s own name, “Adieu.” Keats likes him, maybe even loves him, and all Fell really wants to do is work at the fine foods store after school and take Keats to her Prom. When Fell pulls up to Adieu to pick up his date, he’s met by the family butler, informing Fell that he’s been officially stood up. Fell barrels down the mile long driveway and accidentally hits an eccentric neighbor’s car, who then invites him into his home to get to know him. Fell quickly becomes involved in the lives of these strangers - Wood, his Japanese artist wife, and their nerdy, aspiring magician son. With Keats on the outs, and money tighter than ever, Fell starts to consider Wood’s strange offer to send him to a prestigious boarding school.
Okay, I just recalled that all without having read the book in a good four years. So forgive any small errors, and take that as a testament to how many times I read the book. Which should mean it’s quality, right?
Anyway, if you’re looking for class struggles, pre-Looking For Alaska and Prep boarding school drama, and a dash of social history (yes!) all covered in mystery, please pick up this book. It’s out of print I think, but visit your library to pick up a copy. If you like it, there are two sequels, often found packaged in a three book set.
But just remember, ladies. Fell is all mine.