A Review of No Angel By Naomi Chamberlain

I probably relate the most to Abena, not because I get left out or excluded by my friends, but because she is a Christian. Her friends seem to find it hard to understand the things that come with being a Christian - reading the bible, praying, and giving your life to God - just like some of my non-Christian friends do. They challenge me on issues like ‘If God really exists, why doesn’t he stop war and poverty?’ and I find it hard to answer these questions, but I find a way in the end.

 

I think this is what it was like for Abena when she first told Charlie about having given her life to God, and Charlie asked her all sorts of questions. I think tweens would benefit from reading this book because it deals with several issues and dangers that they could get themselves into. I especially think they would benefit from the part about Rachel and Mark, they would see what problems lying could get themselves and others into. I would give the book to my younger friends, and this book would probably help them understand issues that they have to start facing now that they’re in secondary school.

 

I thought the main conflict between Abena and Rachel was good, it shows how easily others can get excluded at that age, and especially with girls. I also thought the conflict between Rachel and Mark towards the end was very good, and when Rachel asked her friends to lie for her. It shows how if you are not careful, you can be manipulated and influenced a little too much by your peers, and that you should try not to let that happen, otherwise you could be pulled down under with all their problems that you should not have to be dealing with.

 

I do not think I identify with the central character very much, because, for a start she is not a proper Christian, whereas I am. But I think I can understand why she questions Abena so much, because I am faced with those questions a lot. I also do not have friends who use and manipulate me, like Rachel did to Charlie, but I see things like that going on around me. I think if the author were to write another book after No Angel and No Rules as the characters in the book grow; she should start to deal with more adult issues; for example, drugs or sex. I like the way that, unlike most writers who write these kinds of books, the author has dealt with much darker issues than ‘boys and make-up’. I think bringing in stealing and drinking was a really good idea, and so the book is more original, and I enjoyed reading it.