WHAT SHE SAW

A rogue's gallery of the guys in one girl's life, which adds up to acompletely original, funny and occasionally heartbreaking novel about thechallenges of growing up female. Beginning in fifth grade, PhoebeFine, the shy but observant daughter of an oboist in suburban New Jersey,finds that love is a risky game to play. There is Roger Mancuso, whooffers Phoebe her first cigarette, her first kiss and her first experienceof loss. There is Spitty Clark, the frat boy who is an alcoholic andpossible criminal but also somehow a good guy. Later comes Pablo Miles,who licks the back of Phoebe's hand moments after he meets her at a party.And so it goes, as Phoebe struggles to reconcile her conflicting desiresfor safety and adventure. What She Saw... is written with freshness,humour and economy; this is an entertaining and accomplished debut.