April in Chains

What some of those modern problems can be is illustrated by April in Chains, the new novel by Paul Roan. April, the heroine, is thirteen, and the daughter of parents who happen to be very young themselves. She is beautiful, pampered, and hopelessly spoiled. Her father is an aerospace engineer, and the level of intelligence in the entire family is high. It is not so high, however, that the family members can overcome all the difficulties that April's blossoming into young womanhood create.

April's sex education has been an excellent one. On an intellectual level, she knows all she has to in order to cope with her own newborn sexuality. On an emotional level, she is far from being fully prepared. The resulting events have their effects on everyone in the family: April herself, her mother Gloria, her father Ernie, and her two handsome young brothers, Joey and Artie.

Although at first she is confused and unsure of herself, April gradually becomes the dominating force in the family. This may sound improbable, but Mr. Roan's novel shows in convincing detail how it could really happen. Mr. Roan studied social psychology at both Harvard and Purdue universities before deciding to pursue a career in journalism and literature, and has been editor of a magazine for schoolteachers. His facts are authentic, his characters very true-to-life, and his perceptions are incisive. You will believe completely in April and her family, even though some of their adventures will astonish you.