Surprisingly lovable teenager

Esther Pearl Watson's highly amusing and poignant tale of eighties teen angst (loosely based on a teenager's diary from the decade found in a gas-station bathroom) certainly proves the old adage that the more things change the more they stay the same. Set in 1985, Unlovable chronicles the sophomore year of Tammy Pierce, whom Watson crafts into an appealing every-teen character. The story mixes timeless adolescent concerns (acne, boys, pop idols) with memorable period icons such as bouffant perms and leg-warmers. The images strike a balance between the somewhat grotesque and the very lovable indeed, teeming with energy and a teenager's sense of displacement.

Danny Graydon