Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature

Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande
Teen Zone Fiction-Main Level - Brande

Mena Reese has a rough start to high school. Her old friends hate her. Even her parents won't talk to her. The worst part, though, is that she believes she did the right thing. It's just that her church disagrees. Church is the most important thing to Mena's friends and family, and to be kicked out hurts her deeply. (You'll have to read the book to find out what she did!)

Enter Casey Connor, who has been assigned by biology teacher Ms. Shepherd to be Mena's lab partner. He is a super-smart science geek, and Mena quickly learns to trust him. His family is warm and friendly, and she loves hanging out with them. She has to lie to her parents, who won't allow her to socialize with a boy, but she thinks it's worth it. One of the lessons Mena learns throughout the story is that lying is never a good idea. As Ms. Shepherd says, "Lying is for the weak-minded. If you can’t think of a truthful way to solve your problems, you’re not thinking hard enough.”

When Ms. Shepherd starts teaching a unit on evolution, Mena's ex-church friends revolt. Mena begins to see things a little differently, influenced by the Connors. Things she never would have questioned in the past are now not so clear to her. How can she hold on to her beliefs without the support system of her church, but also accept the science that now seems so obvious to her? Can she have both?

While religion is a major theme in this book, the lessons Mena learns about respect and tolerance are universal. Anyone of any belief (or non-belief) affiliation can appreciate this story.