Sex and Violence by Carrie Mesrobian

Clearly this novel is pushing the envelope with a particularly shocking title, but stay with me. Sex and Violence by Carrie Mesrobian is a well-written coming-of-age tale that was recently nominated for the American Library Association’s William C. Morris Debut Award. And oh what a debut novel this is!

Evan Carter has been to more schools than he can count in his young life, and he’s not made friends at any of them. He prefers purely sexual relationships with girls who don’t ask for anything emotional from him, while his relationships with males often end in physical blows. Life as Evan knows it comes to a complete halt when he is the subject of a violent assault that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. Evan’s father decides to take matters into his own hands and moves them both to a tiny lakeside town in Minnesota. Evan is forced to socialize with the teenagers, silently mocking their weird rituals and gossipy nature. Because people in small towns know everything about everyone, it’s impossible to hide, even though that’s all Evan wants to do. He’s never had to form friendships and attachments to other human beings. 

Just when I thought I couldn’t read another coming-of-age tale about teen angst, Carrie Mesrobian hits me with a story that is well-crafted and insightful. I think the success of the novel hinges on Evan. With Evan, I was expecting an unlikeable, violent, angsty character. While he touches on all of those things, Mesrobian writes Evan as a sympathetic character. Evan is clearly dealing with the aftermath of a very serious assault, so his healing process is slow and complicated. He has some signs of PTSD. But more than that, he is working through an entire life of difficult relationships. Evan is unable to relate to people and must learn how. Watching him go through this process was wonderful to watch, even though he often took one step back for every two steps forward.

Mesrobian also brings in the history of the lake and the wildlife as Evan reads and becomes obsessed with a nature book he finds in the cabin. The science of the lake provides an interesting parallel to Evan’s own journey. Though his new friends on the lake are wrapped up in teenage pursuits (sex, drugs, and drinking feature heavily in the novel), the quiet and serenity of nature is inescapable for Evan. I felt Mesrobian did a particularly good job of keeping the story modern and relevant (and gritty) while still connecting readers with the timeless power of nature on the quality of human life.

Overall, I felt Sex & Violence was similar to Winger…but better. (Even though I hate directly comparing two excellent novels in this way.) Part of my love for the book comes, undoubtedly, from my appreciation of the setting. But the other impressive elements of the novel are plentiful. This is a great novel, and my personal pick for the Printz this year; even though I don’t imagine it will actually win, it is the book I would fight for in any Printz discussion (and up against Eleanor & Park and Boxers & Saints, that’s saying a lot!).

I’m considering Sex and Violence to be a Printz contender, and my reviews this winter will cover other books that represent the best of 2013. Have you read Rose Under Fire, Eleanor & Park, Winger, The Summer Prince or any more of 2013’s best? Share your thoughts in the comments!