Inconvenient [Paperback]

Margie Gelbwasser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2010

A 2011 Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teen Readers!

In fifteen-year-old Alyssa Bondar's Russian-Jewish culture, having a few drinks is as traditional as blinchiki and piroshki. So when her mom's midday cocktails turn into an all-day happy hour, it seems like Alyssa's the only one who notices—or cares. Her dad is steeped in the nightly news—and denial—and her best friend Lana is too busy trashing their shared Russian heritage so she can be popular.

Alyssa would rather focus on cross-country meets and her first kiss with her running partner, Keith, but someone has to clean up her mom's mess. But who will be there to catch Alyssa when her mom's next fall off the wagon threatens to drag her down, too?

Praise:

"Inconvenient is riveting and whole."—Beth Kephart, author of Undercover 

 

 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8–10—Russians and alcohol go hand in hand, both in ignorant stereotypes and in 15-year-old Alyssa's experiences. The daughter of Russian immigrants, she is used to seeing her parents find any occasion to imbibe. But when her mother's drinking starts to get out of control, it's not just insensitive comments from thoughtless classmates that are the problem. While Alyssa works to navigate having her first boyfriend, her newly popular best friend, and her cross-country running career, she is simultaneously—and single-handedly—covering up for her mother's growing alcohol abuse while her workaholic father stands by in willful denial until he realizes he must act. Alyssa feels more and more isolated until her new boyfriend, Keith, offers insight that helps "New Alyssa" temper "Old Alyssa's" enabling behaviors. Though the imagery is a bit heavy-handed in parts, the topic of parental alcoholism is an important one to address, and the Russian Jewish teen is an uncommon protagonist in YA literature, both of which create an interesting narrative perspective. The day-to-day nature of Alyssa's story is a refreshing take on the YA problem novel, one that refuses melodrama and favors instead the powerful significance of the smaller moments of life—a smell, a look, a flash of a memory.—Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA
(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Growing up in a Russian Jewish community in suburban New Jersey, Alyssa, 15, gets advice from her best friend about how to fit in with the popular high-school crowd. Alyssa especially wants to hook up with Keith, who runs with her on the cross-country team, and she is thrilled when he returns her interest, and they make out. The love story is steamy in this first novel, told in Alyssa’s immediate, present-tense voice. But Gelbwasser tackles more than romance here. Alyssa’s beloved mom has become an alcoholic, and Dad hides from the problem. Will Mom disgrace the family at their Russian synagogue, where everyone loves to drink? Will she show up drunk at Alyssa’s school? Will AA help? Rooted in the author’s Russian Jewish immigrant background, the story is both hilarious and heartbreaking, and the situations are universal. Some readers may find themselves slowed by the details, but the story, especially the ending, is honest and unsentimental about the difficulties Alyssa faces. Grades 9-12. --Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Flux; Original edition (November 8, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738721484
• ISBN-13: 978-0738721484
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margie Gelbwasser is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of magazines. Her first novel, INCONVENIENT (Flux, 2010), was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens. It tells the story of Alyssa Bondar, a Russian-Jewish teen who is coping with an alcoholic mother, tuned-out father, hot/cold boyfriend and distant best friend. Margie's next novel, PIECES OF US (Flux, March 2012), is told in 4 POV (one of them second) and focuses on cyber-bullying, abuse, family relationships, and how one teen's actions affect the other three. When not writing, Margie loves hiking, cooking, dancing, and reading. She lives in NJ with her hubby, and four-year-old son.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Inconveninet December 27, 2010

By Jewish Book World Magazine

Format:Paperback

Fifteen-year-old Alyssa Bondar lives in a Russian Jewish immigrant community in New Jersey where she is dealing with the typical teenage issues of boys and popularity along with the intense difficulties of her mother's alcoholism. Cleaning her mom's mess has become "inconvenient" and her dad is in denial about the problem. The message of how a teenager can try to deal maturely with an alcoholic parent is well done. But while the novel is a serious exploration of an immigrant community and of a family's dynamics, the author gets bogged down dealing with Alyssa's run of the mill high school problems with boys and her desire to run with the popular crowd. This novel is clearly written for older teen readers as some of the scenes of sexuality, such as when an evening sleepover becomes an opportunity for Alyssa and her best friend to videotape themselves dressed up in lingerie. Descriptions of teenage drinking, marijuana use and sexual exploration may feel gratuituous to some readers. Ages 15 and up. Hilary Zana

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Debut, Emotional Read (Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks blog review) November 27, 2010

By michelle

Format:Paperback

The blurb does a great job summarizing what Inconvenient was about so I'll just go on about my thoughts and feelings about this book. I've been reading out of my comfort zone lately, picking up "tough issues" type of books, and I am glad because Inconvenient was a fantastic, worthwhile read. While the book did mostly center around Alyssa's mother's descent into alcoholism, this book was a lot more than that. Themes of identity, family, friendship, loyalty, growing up, ethnic pride and first love were touched upon in this honest, emotional and unputdownable read.

I loved Alyssa's character--she was a real girl in her thoughts, emotions and actions. She wasn't perfect but I thought her first-person narrative was spot on. In the beginning and all through book, we are given hints as to how close and special Alyssa and her mom's relationship were and watching it deteriorate was painful. I really felt for her but I really liked how her character grew and evolved throughout the book. Besides the alcoholism--and this book definitely didn't shy away from the harsh realities of living with an alcoholic--what made this book a powerful read for me was that I related to Alyssa and her friend Lana in terms of their immigrant identity in school. I moved to the United States from the Philippines when I was nine years old and just like Alyssa and Lana, my friends and I endured teasing and innuendos in school and in the community. And just like Alyssa, I felt like an outsider for most of my years in school.

The glimpse of Russian-Jewish culture in the book were interesting and one of the aspects of the book I particularly enjoyed. The secondary characters added to the story and I thought Alyssa's blossoming romance with Keith, her running partner, was sweet. I was thoroughly riveted by this book until I got to the end. My one complaint about this book was that it ended abruptly--I understand that it's impossible for this book to have a happy ending concerning Alyssa's mom (I'm certain her alcoholism will be an ongoing battle for her and her family for many years) but what about Alyssa and Lana's friendship or Alyssa and Keith's romantic relationship? I don't know if there's going to be a sequel but this book reads like a standalone and an epilogue would've been nice. All in all, though, I really liked this book and thought it a fantastic debut by Maggie Gelbwasser. I am definitely excited for her next book. 4.5 out of 5 stars

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars not the intended audience.....still loved it!!! November 15, 2010

By cheryl averta

Format:Paperback

i was at Barnes and Noble when the author was there for her book signing. i listened to her selected reading and heard what the book was about, what her inspiration was and that the target intended audience was..... teenage girls (13-17). i needed 2 Hanukah gifts for girls in this age bracket so i bought (and Margie signed)2 copies.
this weekend, i decided to read Inconvenient and i loved it. 1st let me tell you...i have not been in that age group for 40 years!!! the themes are universal... loyalty to family, desire to fit in and 1st love (with all the angst that goes along with that)
i have already recommended this book to several of my friends. Margie had mentioned that night that she has a 2nd book in the works...i cannot wait.