When Ms. Scoppettone reached out to me to say that she liked seeing Ms. Beane on this here blog, I was excited enough to brag about it on Facebook. One of the responses I got referred not to to Suzuki Beane, but to a teen novel, The Late Great Me that had been made into an After School Special. I wrote back to Sandra that I’d requested it from interlibrary loan, and she seemed a little horrified because as she said the book is “so out of date.” I might say the book is a little dated, but not out-of-date.
But what’s it’s about, you’re perhaps wondering with annoyance? A teenage alcoholic. She keeps a thermos of scotch and milk in her locker. Maybe that’s what’s dated, because I can’t imagine anyone liking that combination in the 21st century, even a 16 year old. I guess kids had different taste in the 1970s.
Tidbit: There's a helpful psychiatrist named Dr. Meaker. Coincidence?
Cats: yes, but brace yourself
I have discovered many things. I am a young woman, an artist, both considerate and inconsiderate, generous and selfish, funny and sulky, rigid and open, arrogant and humble, and absolutely, definitely, without any doubt a drunk. My name is Geri Peters and I’m an alcoholic and I think you should know about it. p.11