Fiction Review

SPARKS, Nicholas. A Walk to Remember. 240p. Warner. 1999. pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-446-60895-5. LC number unavailable.

Adult/High School--This is the endearing story of a true first love and the two teenagers who found it unexpectedly. Although first love can often be overused and made complicated, this story is simply about falling in love, despite the world going on around them. Sparks manages to address the typical “in” crowd, while making the reader love the mousy quiet girl. While the story maintains an air of mystery surrounding Jamie, the reader knows that the story is building up to something. In the end, their love prevails, despite the tragedy of the story. As the story progresses, Landon and Jamie show true maturity in their relationship, almost too much so, after all, they are teenagers. The story is easier to believe, however, because it was set in the 1950s, before the distractions that teenagers face today. The story allows the two main characters, Landon and Jamie, get in touch with their feelings about themselves and each other. There is a lesson to be learned, that life can be painful, and you have to go on, no matter what. Despite the interesting story and the beautiful words, A Walk to Remember does get sappy and over-romantic at times, which might appeal to teenage girls, but the boys will want to stay away from this story.