Charged

Charged, written by Carol Moreira, tells the story of two 15-year-old friends, Craig and Mandy, who are living through some tough times with their families. Craig's mother is involved with a new man who Craig believes is yet another of a long line of losing boyfriends. Mandy's parents are on the brink of divorce, and on top of this, Mandy is struggling with the guilt of causing her mother's skiing accident. When things come to a climax, Craig and Mandy need their friendship more than ever to cope.

Moreira has written about two families and two friends. She has intertwined two stories with an ending that holds many surprises. This story is also about growing up and taking responsibility for your own actions and doing the right thing. The author chose the title to promote the theme on two levels. First the two main characters are "charged" as they try to find their way and fit in with their families. Second, at the end of the novel, Craig's potential stepfather is "charged."

A compelling story and must read.

Highly Recommended.

Christina Pike is the Principal of St. Francis School in Harbour Grace, NL.

"What I found especially compelling about Charged is the strong sense of responsibility, and of right from wrong, demonstrated by protagonists Craig and Manda. These are ordinary "good" kids, the kind that we all hope to raise, or that we know from down the street -- not the more rare bad-seeds that often hit the media."

"Moreira gets beyond the angst into the way Craig and Manda think, and paints a credible picture of growing up in today's world. The story might be set in the Halifax area, but the challenges are faced by young adults everywhere."