The Awkward Age

The Awkward Age by Francesca Segal is about the problematic years of adolescence.  Hormones are raging and the teenager is confused, moody and self centered.  We have all gone through it and many of us have parented some teens through it also.  This book brings back memories of both those times, you as the teen and you as the parent.  Interestingly, Segal writes the story from different character viewpoints along the way.  As the reader you get to see into the thoughts of parents and the children living through the angst of growing up.

This novel brings us the newly joined families of Julie Alden and her daughter Gwen.  Since the passing of Gwen's father, Daniel,  Julie as the single parent has tried to make Gwen's life happy indulging her every whim.  They have been a team for years, alone against the world.  They are also close with Daniel's parents, who have thought that Julie should move on and find a new relationship. Recently Philip Alden the father-in-law has introduced Julie to James a fellow doctor, who now moves in with Julie and Gwen bringing along his children from a previous marriage.  James' daughter is off at university but Nathan, an angry teenage son joins the household.

How do you blend two families into a one happy household all living under the same roof?  Segal does a fabulous job of getting inside every one's head.  She is able to explain the psychology of what each person would be feeling as they try to change pre-established patterns they each created to fit into the world.  Teenagers trying your patience, as parents try to work on a new loving relationship.
Parents loving their children and wanting to defend them against angry thoughts from the other parent.

Gwen has the family over a barrel, she wants her mother's undivided attention back and to be the center of attention.  She goes to extreme lengths to be the focal point of the family.

The night Nathan graduates from high school everyone is waiting for him to come home to celebrate, but he lets the family down and goes out with friends.  Both James and Julie are on edge as they try to not fight, "An edge to her voice made James stop.  'Of course she needs a break. There's no competition. We're never going to play that game, baby, let's not start.  There's only one team here.'  He dragged the chair over and sat and faced her, looking serious. 'it's been awful and they both need a break. Thankfully it's not Gwen's style to go out drinking like a frat boy, and my son - every now and again he gets the urge to behave like the dumb teenage boy that he is."

This story analyzes relationships on so many levels.  The give and take between the new couple, Julie and James, the interaction between James and his first wife, the interaction between Julie and in-laws. What it is like to be parenting someone else's child.  Even the unusual relationship between Philip and Iris Alden.  They are divorced but seem to care about each other and spend time together.