Book Review
Marla Rose, The Adventures of Vivian Sharpe, Vegan Superhero, (2012)
Strong, independent female characters who stand up for what they believe in shaped my early adult reading experiences. They have helped me to understand responsibility and to fight for what is right. It is from this experience that I have to insist that The Adventures of Vivian Sharpe is an important book for young adults who are curious about activism, animal rights, and environmentalism.
The Adventures of Vivian Sharpe
is a coming-of-age story which addresses deep social and ecological
issues. The main character, after a strange turn of events, taps into a
sense of responsibility that even most adults lack, through an
empathetic and sympathetic connection with the animals around her.
The
title suggests that veganism and animal rights are going to be
foregrounded in this book, but what is offered is a more subtle,
interconnected way of viewing veganism as being conscious of the effects
human choices have on the animals and their environment.
It
addresses heavy themes, such as the pros and cons of ‘monkey-wrench’
activism, agribusiness intrigue, and whether the ends justifies the
means. There is even a fleeting, but welcome, positive opinion on
homosexuality. This is not intrusive, but I most certainly think it’s
vital that we see more positive opinions and representations of
homosexuality expressed in young adult books.
The
story was a pleasure to read. Rose’s style is clear and her well
written dialogue is certainly noteworthy. The book has a few editorial
errors, but overall it was a page-turner (metaphorically speaking as the
book is not yet available in print format). The maturity of the main
character means that it is accessible to adults and provides a model for younger readers.
The end of the book indicates that there will be a sequel. A vegan
teen activist like Vivian is an important addition to young adult
literature and I hope we see more of her in the future.
The Adventures of Vivian Sharp, Vegan Superhero is currently available in almost every e-format. Please visit Amazon or Smashwords for ways to get the book. The Adventures of Vivian Sharpe also has a website and you can find it on Facebook and Twitter.
- Stevie Schafer, 2012
