Leslea Newman’s Young Adult novel Jailbait presents Andrea Robin Kaplan, and her teenaged musings to Readers.  The time is September 1971.  Andi’s life is incredibly dull, monotonous, and just plain uninteresting.

To avoid classmates who in her opinion tease her unmercifully; Andi begins walking home alone. 

One day she pays scant attention as a car passes, however, it passes again the next day, and the next, and again the next.  Andi notices the fellow driving the vehicle IS older than she, nevertheless, the lonely teen starts daydreaming meeting and developing a rewarding affiliation with the good-looking man after she has seen the vehicle over a period of days.  And, predictably, one day, the car stops, and she meets Frank. 

Frank, a calculating, untrustworthy individual, is quite a bit older and is unquestionably more experienced than is Andi. It is during their after-school time together, that Frank helps Andi feel herself to be exceptionally pretty, appreciated and desirable.  What she doesn’t realize is the peril she faces or that Frank is only telling her what she so needs to hear in his design to get from her what he wants.  Desperate for caring and attention, Andi is disposed to believe nearly anything Frank will tell her. 

Frank fills the void in her life and does something for Andi that no one to date has been able to achieve; when Andi is with him, Andi feels herself to be both worthy, and pretty.  Frank calls Andi a woman, intoxicating words for a girl who reached the age where she does not want to be thought of or viewed as a child. 

As the account develops The Reader becomes very cognizant that Frank is a malevolent and vindictive individual.  He is scheming, is playing on Andi’s poor self-image and he is taking more and more advantage of Andrea.  Readers will soon find themselves caught up in the frustration as we can see plainly what Andrea is failing to see. Nonetheless, Frank does provide something that others fail to offer; when she is with him, Andrea feels special, and beautiful.   

Andi’s parents are heedless, egocentric and unaware that their daughter has begun spending long afternoons with a slacker, who is more than twice their daughter’s age.  Frank, by turns, is a man who calls Andi lovely and presents her with lacey, feminine underthings, and, a rancorous voiced and demonstrative oppressor who will ultimately force Andi to take part in frequent sexual acts with or without her agreement. 

For a nascent young woman who badly desires to be treasured; the connection is definitive in activity is neither constructive, good, nor reassuring or strong.  Andi knows that she must keep their relationship concealed; she is underage, Frank might well be jailed for the things that he does with her.  

Jailbait is intended to be a provocative account. 

Readers, particularly those settled by years or maturity, will likely become painfully cognizant that there indeed is nothing fascinating or loving or good concerning the contacts between Andrea and Frank.  As an adult, school teacher, it is a simple thing for me to distinguish how Andrea was caught up in the situation portrayed. 

Andi’s older brother, her pillar, with whom hers was a fulfilling relationship is now gone off to college and is no longer living at home. Her parents are always too busy, caught up in their own interests and importance, and, Andi’s only close school comrade is gone.   It is a recipe for catastrophe; Andi’s descent into a damaging relationship is one often repeated and seen by teachers, counselors, or analysts when self-perception is low and does not receive positive reinforcement.  

Through Andi, Readers are offered a glimpse into what it is that becomes the grounds pushing some young teens into entering into a relationship with someone who is completely erroneous for them. Often, the saddest part of such situation is watching the one with low self-esteem begin to do almost anything to continue the relationship.   

Jail Bait is an account chockfull with upset, pain and bleakness.   

Story writer Newman has accomplished an admirable job on the pages of Jail Bait.  The account targeting the high school group, is peppered with unsophisticated verbiage as is often portrayed by the age.    Characters are convincing, detailed, and well-drawn.  Circumstances and scenarios are nicely completed, draw Readers into the work and continue Reader interest throughout the reading.  

Note:  While not for everyone, Jailbait is certain to interest the target audience.  Language may offend some, on the other hand, I was pleased that there were no detailed, explicit sex scenes .  

Happy to recommend for target audience of mature and older teens, parents, counselors and adults in general who desire a better understanding concerning what makes teens tick. 

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 Reviewed by Molly Reviews BOOKS           molly   martin 

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AMAZON   Biography

Lesléa Newman is the author of 70 books for readers of all ages. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation.  

A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.  Her poems are written in a variety of forms.