Special Topics in Calamity Physics

by Marisha Pessl

Title got you scared? Intimidated by 514 pages? Fear not, dear reader, this is an engrossing read that will keep you up past your bedtime.

Blue van Meer’s mother died in a car accident when Blue was very young. Raised by her father, Gareth, Blue is a seasoned traveler. Why? Gareth is a college professor who doesn’t like to stay in one place. Moving about the U. S. each semester, brainy Blue has seen everything and read everything. She is more than happy when her father announces that they’ll be settling in for an entire year, her senior year in high school. And that’s where the story begins.

The St. Gallway School sets the stage for Blue’s most intriguing year ever. There’s Hannah Schneider, the enigmatic and charismatic teacher of film (shades of Miss Jean Brodie) and the Bluebloods: Jade, Nigel, Charles, Milton, and Leulah (very Secret History). And murder!

Part coming of age novel and part murder mystery, Special Topics in Calamity Physics is a clever and rather erudite literary romp. If you liked The Secret History (or anything like it), you’ll love this novel.

11/2/06