Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant

Summary: After being burned by her mother Mimi’s celebrity status, Robin has withdrawn from the world to avoid further pain. Her one remaining friend, Selena, challenges her to get off her pampered butt and do something, and when Robin finds a mysterious ring as well as a photograph hidden carefully in her mother’s room she gains the motivation to do so. Impulsively she travels to Port Minton, Nova Scotia in search of answers to the origins of the ring, but Robin ends up learning more than she ever expected.

Number of Pages: 290

Age Range: 15-17

Review: Last book on my journey of Vicki Grant’s, but it was my favourite. Today I was laughing till I cried while reading the scene where Robin meets Levi and mistakes him for a dangerous predator. Grant sure knows how to write memorable meet-cutes.

Not Suitable for Family Viewing is both poignant and fun. With the mystery of Robin’s mother’s past and the journey Robin has to go on to find out the truth, it’s just a good story. It’s difficult to go into detail without ruining the book for first-time readers, but I was struck by Grant’s portrayal of the difficulties in facing and overcoming one’s past. Plus I enjoyed the fact that there were a couple of plot twists I didn’t see coming. Throw Grant’s impeccable sense of humour into the mix and you’ve got a book that will hold your interest and keep you guessing while making you roll with laughter.

Recommended for mid-teens looking for some romance, mystery and humour.

Memorable Quotes:

“It makes me think: why does everyone always feel sorry for the people in comas? The comatose guys should be feeling sorry for us. They’ve got it easy. No worries. No expectations. No wondering how you’re going to fill your day. (Next time the guidance counsellor asks me what I want to be, that’s what I’m going to say: comatose. If nothing else, it will make picking my courses easier.)” – Robin from Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant, page 5

“I don’t want to hurt her again. (I don’t think she wants to hurt me either. Maybe that’s why we avoid each other.)” – Robin from Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant, page 95

“‘You know, I’ve done more shows than I can count on heroes. People who’ve jumped onto subway tracks to save a stranger or fought off an intruder or thrown themselves on a hand grenade. And every time I do one, I think of Rosie. We always make bravery out to be this big, flashy thing. It isn’t always. Rosie Ingram is one of the bravest people I’ve ever met. I mean it. I’m not saying everyone at high school was out-and-out mean or that some people didn’t try to help. But Rosie was the only one brave enough to really get to know me. She didn’t care if it looked bad on her. That’s real courage. Unfortunately, it’s just not very good TV.'” – Mimi from Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant, page 278

Not Suitable for Family Viewing by Vicki Grant is published by HarperTrophy Canada (2009).
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