Giraffe People by Jill Malone

Publisher:       Bywater Books

Jill Malone is an award winning author for her previous books, but Giraffe People is probably more readable by the general public.  This is likely to due to the fact that it’s a coming of age story, something that most people can relate to.

Cole Peters is fifteen years old; a difficult age for anyone, but especially the child of a military chaplain.  Cole is trying to figure out who she is, what she wants and where she fits in the general scheme of the universe while dealing with the shifting impermanence of military life.  As she says in the book, “We never get to keep anything.  Never.  Temporary quarters, and temporary friends, and temporary school…”  It’s no wonder that Cole boomerangs all over the place in her emotions and perceptions.  She seems happy playing soccer and dating her boyfriend; then she seems willing to give them up for the rebellious life of a rock and roll band.  Is her admiration for Meghan, an older girl who is preparing for West Point, simply the normal hero worship for a role model or the budding of early lesbian interests?  Cole describes herself and her family by saying, “Nigel and Nate and I have the exact body of our dad: stooped, long-legged, with a narrow chest and flat feet.  We’re like giraffe people.”  Maybe what she’s saying is that it’s very difficult to be normal and different at the same time.

The reader can feel sympathetic towards Cole on a number of issues, mainly because she has so many issues to deal with – teenage, the military lifestyle, a girl in athletics, indefinite sexuality, and her father is a chaplain, bringing in the religious aspect.  What’s left for the poor kid not to have to deal with?  The most interesting one turns out to be the impact on the life of a military child.  This is an area most people never consider, but the constant shifting of areas and the inconstancy of friends and schools is destabilizing more than anything.  It provokes a question of whether or not families with children should be in the military or if they should be stationed in one place for longer periods of time.

Giraffe People is the least esoteric of Malone’s books, but perhaps her most thought provoking because it deals with issues almost anyone can relate to.  The reader can identify with struggles that have been experienced.  It might not be a good idea to give the book to an actual teenager however since it might upset more than help them.

A Field Guide to Deception by Jill Malone

Publisher:                   Bywater Books

A Field Guide To Deception is about two women who are unsettled in their lives.  Claire worked with her late aunt for years writing field guides to plants.  She also depended on her aunt for support in dealing with life's situations, especially raising her small son Simon.  Claire needs to produce another guide, but she's drifting without a sense of direction.  Liv is a handywoman who works odd jobs and has been hired by Claire to do some work on her property.  She's used to being on her own, picking up one night stands at bars and she's not sure she ever wants to settle down, but she's been charmed by Simon and that brings her into a very uneasy relationship with Claire.  They begin to view each other in new ways and find much that is attractive.  They also make numerous mistakes, but seem to be trying to make the situation work.  Then an incident disrupts everything and whether or not they can ever put the pieces back together is very questionable.

This story doesn't totally conform to the usual template of a romance, especially since the ending of the book is uncertain as to what is happening.  There are two layers of plot here, one that is a fairly simple story and then an undercurrent that is hinted at, but elusive. The characters are complex and have a tendency to shift just when the reader is getting a sense of who they are.  In some ways they're also aggravating.  Many of their problems could be solved by simply talking to each other, but instead they jump to conclusions and avoid conversation. Once or twice might seem realistic, but when it keeps happening, the reader might wonder what's wrong with the two women.  The pace of the book is uneven which makes becoming enmeshed in the story difficult.

Bywater Books is making an effort to put out books that it feels go beyond the standard patterns and provide more sophisticated reading.  These usually aren't stories that can be read and digested in a couple of hours, but require more concentration.  The problem is that sometimes, in trying to create more complex books, stories can also become convoluted.  A Field Guide To Deception will require more effort than a casual bit of afternoon reading for the full meaning of the story to be fully grasped.