I have an older version of this title, an aging paperback from 1978. I picked it up recently because it was so unlike any Scott O'Dell book I'd ever seen before.

http://www.scottodell.com/Pages/Kathleen,PleaseComeHome.aspx

This dark tale of a middle-class girl who falls in with the wrong company and runs away was probably an answer to the pitiful but popular GO ASK ALICE, a fictionalized autobiography from 1971. GO ASK ALICE, with it's title based on the Grace Slick lyric which referenced Lewis Carroll's ALICE IN WONDERLAND, was an over-the-top, sensationalist tome, written to encourage teens to stay away from the drug culture. It is one of the most challenged American books of all time. This fictional tale has more authenticity. The story unfolds as two diaries. Kathleen's entries begin and end the tale and her mother Sara, an English teacher, is narrator in the middle after Kathleen's disappearance. There's a background of tragedy here. Kathleen's father was killed in Vietnam. Perhaps that is part of why Kathleen moves into a sexual relationship before she's mature enough to make that step. Ramon, Kathleen's Mexican lover, is the first to speak her name as she narrates. Their relationship is touching. Though her mother is horrified by Kathleen's desire to marry Ramon and the cultural gulf between the two, he is a positive influence. Ramon scorns drugs and he truly loves Kathleen. After Ramon tragically leaves the scene, Kathleen travels from San Diego to Mexico, influenced by her druggie friend Sybil. She assumes an alias, Hillary Coleridge, after Samuel Taylor Coleridge the Romantic poet. His "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" becomes part of the narrative when Kathleen finds a copy of the poem in a public library in Mexico. It is her touchstone. I won't give away what happens here but the tale is well told and sustained. I'd certainly recommend it over GO ASK ALICE. O'Dell is a wonderful storyteller. I'm glad that this young adult novel was reissued in 2011. The story does not seem dated, though it comes from a different place in American history. Young love and young mistakes will always be part of every culture and time.

This is a piggyback surprise to a wishlist book I'm sending to discoverylover. I didn't want to wild release this as it is the only copy of this book registered in bookcrossing and because in my mind it goes with the other book I'm sending in a sort of converse way. All future finders of this book, despite what I have written here, are free to wild release this book anywhere and whether or not it has been read. I've been to San Diego often and to Baja California and its sad and seedy town of Tijuana, places featured in this book. Once I stayed in the Hotel Coronado, beloved to L. Frank Baum, author of our famous American fairytale, THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Thanks very much Cordelia-anne! I read Islands of the Blue Dolphin several times years ago as a teenager and really enjoyed it so I look forward to reading some of his other works. Thanks also for the lovely letter/postcard/card. Would you believe I've actually been to Mount Vernon - ResQgeek took Newk and I there when we were in DC for the convention there in 2011!

This book was slightly dated, but it still had a pretty good story! I was kind of expecting the book to be a bit darker than it was, I wouldn't exactly describe it as a journey from hell (not a journey from heaven either though!). A slightly more tame version of 'Go Ask Alice'.

Sent on to Sharun. Hope you enjoy it! Since I got these as a pair it seemed right to send them on together!

Thank you for this bonus book, gorgeous postcard and cool bookmark. I shall read and release when I get the chance.

I don't think I enjoyed this book. I'm guessing it's a bit of a diluted moral warning to kids to stay away from drugs? Maybe it's just me. I simply didn't find this book particularly shocking. I struggled to connect with or care about the characters. I don't feel there was much emotional depth to them (even though it was written in diary format - which should be quite intimate right?). The only reason I kept on reading was waiting for something dramatic to happen. When it did, it was an anti climax, due to the detached way I was feeling about the book. It just wasn't as exciting to me as it was pretending to be from the description on the back of the book.

This lucky book is off to the Netherlands!!! Hope you spread joy to all your future readers...

Thank you Shahrun for sending me this book, and the other book it has been travelling with and a postcard of Queen Elizabeth II. I see the package has been travelling since 18th July! But true to Dutch form, they dumped it in a "bin" in the sorting office after its one day journey to the Netherlands and just left it there until they had enough in the "bin" to justify delivery I suppose! I look forward to reading both books. Thank you very much for your generosity.

I didn't enjoy this book very much. I don't really like stories about drug taking anyway.

This book will be going to fellow bookcrosser, motherof11 in Dalfsen. At the moment it is in the hands of her daughter, and it will be given to motherof11 soon.

My daughter gave me this book today.
Thank you very much, chamonix44! It looks very interesting!

I quite enjoyed this book.
Thanks for sharing it with me, chamonix44!

This book goes to Marita.

Saw this book at a public bookshelf at SiegCarré shopping mall on Saturday. Left it on the shelf but wanted to let you guys know that it is still alive.