In the sequel to Durable Goods, Katie Nash and her distant father have moved to Missouri. Her sister has eloped, her best friend is more preoccupied with her own life (and budding romances) than with supporting Katie, she doesn’t fit in at her new school, and her only new friend is the socially inept daughter of an overbearing and overprotective mother. When Katie finds a small, iced over pond to skate on her life changes in ways she didn’t expect – falling through the ice results in her meeting mechanic Jimmy. Though ten years older than Katie, and married, she falls in love for the first time.
Despite her lack of support, Katie finds her own way and her own mentors, including Catholic priest Father Compton who, though Katie’s not Catholic, is happy for her to visit the church and act as her spiritual adviser. She begins, with the help of housekeeper Ginger, to reshape her relationship with her father, and reflects on the nature of her friendships – with the clueless Cynthia, subtly patronisingly Cherylanne, and alluring model Taylor Sinn.
Joy School is a beautiful portrait of the ecstatic joy, crushing misery and lit purity of first love, the difficulties of adolescence, and the complexity of relationships. - Alex
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