Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Summary from Goodreads:

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastians, a boys' school that's pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.

Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, along, and without an inkling who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself

What I love about this book is that even though it tackles a serious topic like depression, it has enough funny and light moments in the story to not make me feel well, depressed. But at the same time making sure that one understood the gravity of the this kind of condition and how it affects the people closest to the one experiencing it. It is a balance of the light and the dark. 

Even the characterization of Francesca also exhibited that sense of balance, a balance of weaknesses and the strengths. I feel her vulnerability in her struggles with finding her identity; fitting in at a new school; coping with the depression of her mother; and her father's everything-will-be-fine-even-when-it's-not-attitude regarding their mom. But I also feel her toughness as she holds everything together for her little brother whom she loves so much; how she stands up to a group of girls from her old school, whose acceptance matter to her, by admitting being friends with Justine, a girl they used to make fun; how she is able to finally help out her dad which then leads to the beginning of her mom's recovery. 

It was not only Francesca and her parents that are stand out characters. The rest of the Francesca's friends are equally memorable with their unique personalities. Tara the activist, Justine the quite musical one, Siobhan the boy addict, Thomas the slob who loves music, Jimmy who is a bit crass and a bit of a bully. From all these descriptions, I would have thought that there is no way these people would get along with each other. But they do and they are friends. Such is Melina Marchetta's brilliance when it comes to creating relationships of her characters. 

I was not quite keen on Will Trombal, Francesca's love interest. A prefect, a former choir boy, and an athlete, with detailed plans of how his life is going to go. He seems like the perfect guy and he did and said sweet things to Francesca but he wasn't swoon worthy, for me at least. I kind of wanted Francesca to end up with Thomas Mckee. I admit he needs some lessons on good manners but he I like how he was there for the girls when they needed him and he actually cares for them.

This is another brilliant Aussie YA novel. I am itching for Jellicoe Road and The Piper's Son. *Scratch Scratch*