Alice, I Think
Written by: Susan Juby
Harper Collins $15.99
Recommended for ages 14 and up

Alice MacLeod is a quirky fifteen year old from Smithers, B.C.. She attributes her inability to fit in with her peers on the fact that she was home-schooled for ten years. The antics of her peace-loving hippie mother and her author wannabe father along with her very normal younger brother add to the hilarity of this young adult novel.

Alice’s parent think she would benefit greatly from the advice of a counselor so she visits with Bob on a regular basis. As of late, Bob and Alice have compiled a list of Life Goals which she tries to accomplish through the course of the story. Trying to fit in with the in crowd (or any crowd for that matter) at her new school is not turning out to be as easy as she perhaps thought however finding clothes that suit her wacky fashion sense at the local thrift store is a little easier. When Alice meets Aubrey she is sure she has met her soulmate however his weekend long visit at the MacLeod home is more than any of them can stand despite the itinerary her father has drawn up with hour by hour activities planned.

Susan Juby, a native of British Columbia, has written a real winner for the teenage crowd. Her description of Alice’s haircut at Irma’s salon had me laughing out loud while the portrayal of Alice’s father’s poker friends (or Mensa group as they are mistakenly referred to) is priceless. This is truly a knee-slapper of a book and will be enjoyed by all teenage girls with any sense of humour. Juby’s second novel that chronicles the life of Alice is Miss Smithers.