Impossible

Impossible
by Nancy Werlin

IMPOSSIBLE by

Category:

Contemporary

Age Recommendation:

Grades 9+

Release Date: 9/18/08

Publisher: Dial

Reviewed by:

Rating:

5 Stars

Nancy Werlin uses a variation of the folksong

"Scarborough Fair"

as the backdrop for an interesting combination

of mystery, fantasy, suspense, and the paranormal.

Generations ago an angry elfin knight placed a curse on the young women of the Scarborough clan. Each girl

became pregnant as a teen and upon giving birth to a daughter, each girl went insane. The only way to break the

curse was to complete three tasks described in the lyrics of the song. Until now it seemed the curse would carry

on forever.

Lucy Scarborough, now seventeen, has always known her birth mother was Miranda Scarborough, but luck

brought her into the lives of Leo and Soledad Markowitz. They have raised her since birth and understand the

complications of her life story. Through the years they have been plagued by visits from Miranda. Her insanity has

been the cause of many embarrassing situations. Now, as Lucy is approaching her last year in high school, she

hopes that she can avoid anymore encounters with her crazy mother and get on with her life.

Early in the story, Lucy is preparing for her prom and her date with Gray Spencer. Her adopted parents are

nervous about the date since it is one of her first, and they haven't actually met Gray. As the couple is posing for

pictures and is about to leave for the evening, the unthinkable happens. Miranda shows up in her baggy T-shirt and

flowing skirt, pushing her rusty shopping cart full of bottles and cans. Everyone is shocked when she begins to

attack, throwing glass bottles at everyone in the yard. She is finally hauled away by the police, but not before Gray

makes a get-away in his new car, leaving Lucy humiliated and dateless.

Just when Lucy is ready to give up on him and attend the prom with a long-time childhood friend, Gray returns,

apologizes for running off, and begs her to still be his date. She happily accepts, but it proves to be the beginning

of yet another horrible experience. As the two are leaving the prom later that evening, Gray takes Lucy aside and

forces himself on her. The experience is not only terrible, but also puzzling as Lucy tries to connect the gentle high

school boy with the vicious act and the sinister voice she hears during that attack.

Weeks after the prom, Lucy discovers she has followed in the footsteps of the Scarborough women and become a

pregnant teen. Will her fate be the same? Will she give birth to a daughter, and will she lose her mind?

Werlin creates an interesting mix of past and present. Lucy seems one moment to be a typical teen, and the next,

the victim of an ancient evil. The turning of each page reveals another fact about the family curse. The lyrics of the

song provide the clues necessary to break the curse, but those clues are not crystal clear and require creative

solutions from Lucy and her helpful family and friends. Encouraged by hope and love, Lucy fights to change the

direction of her life at the same time as she learns to accept the hand fate has dealt. Werlin fans will not be

disappointed.