The Isabel Factor

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

Adolescence marks the real beginning of each individual’s lifelong
search for the answer to the question “Who am I?” Vancouver’s Anna
McKay, 15, believes she already knows. She sees herself as the
complement of the competitive, athletic Zoe Jarvis, her best friend
since Grade 1. This year, after seven years of attending the same
month-long summer camp, the pair are to become Counselors in Training.
When Zoe breaks her arm, a hesitant Anna, feeling incomplete, must go by
herself. No longer in Zoe’s shadow, Anna responds somewhat to various
encouragements to become who she really is. When Zoe, arm in a sling,
surprisingly appears at Camp Stillwater, however, Anna attempts to
resume her subordinate position.

A factor complicating Anna’s role resumption is her emerging
friendship with the seemingly friendless Isabel, a reluctant CIT dumped
at camp by her single-parent father. The outspoken, nonconformist Isabel
particularly grates on Jennifer Clements, who is part of the social
elite at Anna’s school. Elected cabin leader, the demanding Jennifer
wants her CITs to best Arlene Breckner’s cabin in the camp
competition, but Isabel, apparently not a team player, could hurt their
chances. Zoe, whose previous camp identity is diminished by her now
being one-winged, feels threatened by Anna’s relationship with Isabel,
and consequently Zoe aligns herself with Jennifer, thereby making Anna,
along with Isabel, just “extras” in life’s drama. While the book
has a happy ending, Friesen’s writing provides credible insights into
the shifting dynamics of adolescent girl cliques and the group’s
demands for conformity. Recommended.