Basically, Mallory Keaton of Family Ties stars in a remake of The Quiet American, as a teenage girl obsessed with boys and her teenage friends, spares a couple brain cells to figure out that her parents who drag her around the world, including their current Central American home, may not be "who they say they are."

It's an interesting hook, but the author really doesn't do much with it, getting bogged down in the high school social scene and fairly typical teen antics and acts of rebellion. She does veer a bit into Ugly American territory, as her family resides in a fairly comfortable bubble as the people who actually live in the countries where they are stationed suffer from a coup and a devastating hurricane.

Disappointing end result, but I liked the art at least. ( )

Sophia Glock is the daughter of CIA intelligence agents and grew up moving to a new country every few years. This graphic work of "creative nonfiction" is her story. She says nothing is made up, but some events and people were altered either to protect their identity or to streamline the story. She had to get permission from the CIA Publication Review Board prior to publishing.

The story takes place while she and her family were living in Central America for about a year and a half. She is having to start over once again: new high school, new friends, but same old lies. She captures the angst-ridden inner life of a teen well. Making friends (and frenemies), rebelling against her parents, first boyfriend.

"This summer is going to suck.
I can just tell.
I feel so stifled
...and yet so apart.
Also, it's just boring.
It's as if a gap has opened up—
and I don't feel like closing it."

The artwork is simple with minimal color (grayscale and peach), with the exception of a red dress, which is bold in it's symbolism. ( )

Reviewed for SLJ

Creative nonfiction memoir by Sophia Glock, whose parents were U.S. intelligence officers.