Annilea

Susannah D. Ketchum, a former teacher-librarian at the Bishop Strachan
School in Toronto, serves on the Southern Ontario Library Services
Board.

Fourteen-year-old Annilea was born with Moebius Syndrome, a rare
condition with several life-threatening complications. She cannot smile,
blink, or close her mouth properly. She also has difficulty articulating
words clearly, but she dreams of being a singer. After a distressing
voice competition in which the adjudicator decides that he cannot judge
her because she lacks facial expression, Annilea realizes that she must
consider yet another operation—“smile surgery”—if she is to
realize her dream.

This short, well-written novel is full of charming small touches.
“Annilea decided on her second mouthful of cake that ... she was never
going to have family meetings over supper. They were not good for the
digestion.” The reader is introduced to a cast of believable and
enjoyable characters, including Annilea’s feisty Scottish grandmother,
her best friend Céline (“‘... a smile might help people who don’t
know you take the time to find out what a terrific person you really
are.’”), and the obligatory (but low-key and realistic) love
interest—Céline’s older brother, Marc.

Although Ishbel Moore has obviously done a great deal of research, she
presents her information naturally, weaving it effortlessly into the
plot. The strain that Annilea’s condition has placed on her parents is
revealed in brief flashes such as, “‘We couldn’t wait for our baby
to smile that first smile. I’m still waiting.’”

The stress that Annilea undergoes daily is also illustrated with deft
understatement. She has played hockey since she was seven. She plays
goal partly because, in the beginning, no one else wanted to, and partly
because she soon realized that goalie headgear hid her face. All readers
will hope for a sequel. Highly recommended.