Bridging Beyond (Sevens) - Hardcover

Grade 7-9-Utilizing the clever and imaginary psychological premise of "genetic memory," first-time novelist Duble offers an eerie tale. Guilt ridden by the automobile accident that causes the death of her best friend, and lonely since the death of her great-grandmother, 15-year-old Anna is thrown into further torment when she begins to experience awareness of and even participation in activities that occurred at the time of her great-grandmother's own wild youth. A psychologist to whom Anna has been referred to help her cope with her grief and guilt discerns in Anna's fugues the opportunity for the contemporary girl to learn self-forgiveness from the past. This is a complex plot with a keen sense of both psychology and the variety of human social stigmata. However, the prose is stolid and sometimes anachronistic, while some of the action is disingenuous (such as the psychologist's ready permission for Anna's younger sister to observe a counseling and hypnosis session). The adults all seem flat and available only to offer foils for Anna, and the revelations at the end seem predictable. The protagonist, however, is credible and sympathetic, in spite of the seriousness of her lapses in judgment. Overall, this is a fast read for those who want some fantasy with their problem novels.
Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Readers are riveted to the story. Anna's...struggle to find answers are described by Duble with great compassion and skill. -- Kliatt, May 2002