Vera Dietz Book Review

Vera Dietz in the novel ​Please Ignore Vera Dietz​ by (author) seems like a normal teenager on the outside. On the outside, she is a introverted teenager who lives in a small Pennsylvania. On the inside, she is an alcoholic, with a dad who is a former alcoholic, and a mother who was once a stripper that is no longer there. She is struggling with the death of her best friend, Charlie Kahn, who is framed for a horrible act which he never committed. Following the death of her best friend, Charlie, Vera must learn to adapt to life without him, in a world where everything seems to go against her. This story about moving on, and accepting the truth, is a must read.

One thing that I really enjoyed about the novel were the characters, and how they dealt with adversity. Two characters that really stood out to me were Vera and her dad, Ken, both who have experience with alcoholism. Vera knows that her dad was an alcoholic, and that it is in her genes. However, it seems that the only thing that puts her at ease is vodka, which she conveniently keeps under the seat of her car, which she occasionally sips between her stops as a delivery driver at Pagoda Pizza. It isn’t until the end of the novel, where both of the characters find peace with one another. When driving with Vera, when everything has been concluded Ken says how, “We all find our own way, Veer. I’m glad you finally figured it out.” (323). I thought that this was a perfect way to wrap up the novel, because it really tied the two characters, father and daughter, together.

Another aspect of the novel that I enjoyed was the setting. Specifically, the Pagoda in the town where the characters live, and the significance that it holds. Unlike other settings in the novel, the Pagoda has a live of its own, and is able to see what the characters do, and can tell the readers on what it knows. Throughout the course of the novel, the Pagoda served as a place where important events always took place. The Pagoda knows of its importance, when it says, “...they keep saving me because they know I stand for something. They’re just not sure what yet.” (113). The Pagoda has been in the town for decades, and has been able to see most characters in the novel as they grow up. I thought that it was very interesting how the author personified the Pagoda, giving it the ability to view the characters, and reflect back to the readers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, but was hoping for possibly a better ending to wrap up the storyline. Besides the end of the novel, I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the themes such as moving on, and acceptance throughout the story. It told the story of a teenager going through things that people of similar ages can relate to. Although have never gone through some of the things that Vera experienced, I felt connected to her, and could share some of the same pains. Overall, I enjoyed this novel to an extent, and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good drama, and enjoys young adult fiction.