The Transformation of Minna Hargreaves by Fleur Beale

Minna is a modern 14 year old schoolgirl with a group of friends that keep in contact with her 24/7 and say "Whatever" to everything. At the start of the story she is agonising on whether to have sex with her smarmy boyfriend while her older brother has become a "stoner". Mother and father have their own careers and family life is non existent. When mother discovers what Minna is up to and brother Noah's drug habit is beginning to change his life, things have got to change. Father gets the opportunity for the whole family to spend a year on an isolated island in the middle of Cook Strait as part of a "reality TV" series for NZ television.

In spite of severe resistence from Minna and Noah, their parents go ahead with the plan. Once on the island the change of lifestyle is a shock to the whole family but secret family revelations turn the story into high drama. I was bored at the start of this book but I soon got into it and felt that it finished well once the secrets were out. A great read for teenagers.

Published by Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Bob