What Happened to Lani Garver

What Happened to Lani Garver

When the mysterious Lani Garver arrives in the small community of Hackett Island, popular Claire McKenzie tries to befriend the enigmatic loner, but when a tragic event occurs, Claire is forced to question everything she holds dear, and unexpectedly discovers that angels really do walk the earth. 15,000 first printing. The folks on Hackett Island, near Philadelphia, are not too friendly to newcomers. Anyone the slightest bit different is eyed with suspicion, as Claire found out when she missed a year of junior high due to leukemia. Now she works hard at fitting in, following treacherous but popular Macy's lead, hiding her passion for the guitar, and never talking about her fear that her illness will return. Or her nightmares. Or her eating disorder. The boys of Hackett Island's "in" crowd are members of the "fish frat"--hunky sons of the local fishermen--and their horseplay even among themselves is brutal and edge-of-danger. And then Lani Garver shows up at school, a tall, thin, strangely androgynous person. "No. Not a girl. Sorry," he says pleasantly when Macy questions him about his gender with vicious curiosity. But Claire, much to Macy's disgust, is drawn to Lani, and his wisdom and kindness begins to heal her. He takes her to Philadelphia to meet his artistic friends, talks sense to her about her eating disorder and her blind devotion to Macy, finds her a therapist. Who is this Lani Garver? He resists "boxes" like "gay." Even his age is a mystery to Claire. Strangest of all, could he be a "floating angel," as his friends at the hospital seem to believe? Meanwhile, the fish frat are closing in for the kill, and when their harassment turns lethal, Lani shows a terrible side of himself Claire has never seen. Carol Plum-Ucci raises tantalizing questions around a fascinating character in this gut-clenching story that transcends the clichés of the gay-bashing novel. (Ages 14 and older) --Patty Campbell Grade 9 Up-Claire McKenzie, 16, is a cheerleader, musician, and leukemia survivor. She's haunted by dreams, day and night, that her cancer is back. She secretly writes music with lyrics inspired by dark visions of girls who cut themselves with razors and watch themselves bleed. Her friend Macy is controlling, but she helps Claire feel "normal." Lani Garver enters the picture as a new student at their high school. With his porcelain skin, high cheekbones, longish bob, and seductive walk, it is hard to be sure if he's a guy or a girl. Claire's friends decide that he is gay. He is intelligent and worldly wise and is the one person to whom Claire can talk about her darkest dreams and fears. He seems incapable of not speaking the truth even when his life depends on it. Plum-Ucci also introduces magical elements into the story through Lani's philosophical reflections on Andovenes' Angels, and Claire's growing speculation that her new friend may indeed be a floating angel. She discovers who she is, in the face of unbelievably strong peer pressure, and the determination to decide what is real and what is not. Prejudice, homophobia, friendship, tolerance, individuality, and the possibility that something spiritually bigger than all of us rules this universe are wonderfully woven into this powerfully told story. Outstanding writing, strong characterization, and riveting plot development make this title rise above many recent coming-of-age stories. Lynn Bryant, Great Bridge Middle School, Chesapeake, VA Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Gr. 8-12. Plum-Ucci follows her debut novel, The Body of Christopher Creed , a 2000 Printz Honor Book, with another offering about an enigmatic high-schooler who engenders the wrath of his fellow students--but this one might be an angel. Popular 16-year-old Claire can't immediately tell whether Lani Garver is a boy or a girl. Lani turns out to be a guy, and most people think he's gay. His friendship empowers Claire, who has her own problems: a possible cancer relapse, an eating disorder, and an alcoholic mother. Lani's wisdom and kindness make Claire wonder if he's one of those floating angels she's heard about, but members of the macho set consider how far they can push him. They do drown him, but is he really dead? A misplaced opening chapter gives away the ending, and the sometimes-stereotypical characters laugh incessantly; they giggle, crack up, and snort, usually stopping the narrative flow. Plum-Ucci has the core of a good story here. Lani's androgyny and his angelic possibilities are intriguingly played out, but readers must wade through a lot of extraneous scenes and situations to get the good stuff. For larger collections. Ilene Cooper Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved CAROL PLUM-UCCI is the author of the acclaimed Body of Christopher Creed, which was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book and was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award. She lives in southern New Jersey. CAROL PLUM-UCCI is the author of the acclaimed Body o