Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK is a slice of the life of a teenager's junior year in high school. First, Addison is a good girl, yes a preacher's kid, and the only daughter of said widowed pastor. It's not one of those situations where she has to be the parent to her bumbling father, so much as she has raised herself emotionally, while her father has shepherded his flock and protected her physically.
Addison's overwhelming concern is a boy she's adamantly refusing to be concerned about. Bad boy, older than her, high school drop out, no ambition, Wes. (Does anyone else think Dread Pirate Roberts when that name comes up?) Wes works hard for his stereotype — motorcycle, leather jacket, skanky (Addison's word) girlfriend, and no job. No interest in getting a job. And though Addison has lived her entire life knowing what she should and shouldn't do, she can't seem to shake this guy's hold on her even when she knows she should.
Toss in a few great secondary characters — messed up best friend turned enemy, Claire, and new best friend, foreign exchange student, Marta, and we have the girlfriends in a pickle. Toss in two more love interests for Addison — football jock and bonehead, Austin, and nice, but no spark, Luke, and the plot thinkens. Then, if Addison needs some more trouble, lets add her dad finding his old high school sweetheart in Addison's very own English teacher.
All great. Adds up to a fun young adult novel. Even has plently of God moments woven into the plot and characters in real, coming of age ways. So what's my issue? The conversion scene. This is "Seek Truth. Read fiction" blog reviews. I can't speak for Betsy St. Amant's conversion experience. I can only speak from what the Word says about becoming a new creation in Christ, but Scripture shows it's more involved than, "Okay, God. Let's try this again. For real this time. PK status not withstanding — I'm Yours."
Which I think is an awesome prayer. Which I think would have marvelous ramifications in the spiritual realms. Which I can completely believe our loving Father would respond to. It shows Addison yielding. But where's the repentance? Where's the baptism? Where's the Holy Spirit? In fact, I just thought it was a Christian moment of recommitment … until later in the book.
That's my only gripe, and I am well aware that this won't be a gripe for the majority of readers. So having shared my two cents, I now thoroughly recommend Confessions of a PK for young adults and all adults who want another look into the psyche of our teenagers.
