Amen, Moses Gardenia

by Jean Ferris

A high school girl with an unusual family and life style feels she will never "fit in" with her fellow students and suffers from deep depression until a popular boy helps her to see the value of her special qualities.

200 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1983

About the author

This author is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects: living with a deaf parent (Of Sound Mind), facing the consequences of a criminal act (Bad), or questioning one's sexuality (Eight Seconds). But Jean Ferris is also adept at writing comedy, historical fiction, and romance. What's most interesting is that she didn't publish her first novel until she was in her mid-40s. Yet she's never forgotten the intense feelings and changes of her own teenage years. Critics as well as teen readers have seen the evidence of that in her writing and have honored her novels with a number of awards, from Best Books for Young Adults to various state and National Book Award nominations.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite young adult novels! Deals with teenage loneliness and depression, but gives the reader hope.