What would you do if your life depended upon you losing your virginity before your 16th birthday?

A freaking mind-bender of a question for many out there–I’m sure.

I recently finished Nathan Kotecki‘s THE SUBURBAN STRANGE, a YA paranormal romance and that was one of the many intriguing plot questions the characters struggled to answer.

Here’s what happens:

Fifteen year old Celia Balaustine is new to Suburban High. She’s still saddened by the loss of her father a year ago and is reticent to make friends. Instead she draws. Her skill as an artist makes her a friend in a summer drawing class–Regine, an upperclassman at her new school.

Regine and her friends make up a small clique of “sophisicates” who call themselves the Rosary. They dress in tailored clothing, favoring the darker hues in the spectrum, and alternative music. It’s not Goth, and it’s not emo, but it’s different and the Rosary enjoys being set apart.

Celia buys into this group wholeheartedly as it gives her confidence of friendship and lends an air of mystery that suits her shyness. In addition to her Rosary friends, Celia befriends her lab partner Mariette, who she soon discovers has supernatural powers. In short Mariette is a witch of the Kind, meaning she performs good magic to help people. Those of the Unkind–or dark magic practicioners–are Mariette’s mortal enemy.

It’s handy to have a Kind witch at Suburban High because it soon becomes apparent that an Unkind is working evil on the younger girls at school. A rash of girls are having dangerous, near-fatal accidents on the day before their 16th birthday. These incidents seem to plague only the girls who aren’t sexually active.

As rumors–and deflowering offers–fly through the school, Celia is faced with the choice: Should she? She’s never even kissed a boy. And while she’s interested in one, Tomasi, she’s not sure she’s ready for that at all.

In the end Celia’s decision seems less important than the hunt for the Unkind. Because one girl finally does die, granting that dark witch exceptional power. And Celia’s innate strength is the only thing protecting her from certain death. It’s a fantastic book with layers of art and musical references.

It’s lyrical and fantastical and an intriguing read. While the sex question is prominent, there are thoughtful and conscientious arguments made that (I believe) any teenager faces regarding sexual activity. In this scenario the peer pressure is astounding, and it seems few girls cave. Is it because everyone will assume she ‘did it’ if she isn’t maimed? The promiscuity double-standard all girls experience is laid in plain sight, so the discussions are unencumbered by the usual mores.  I enjoyed the sensitivity with which this was handled, but wonder why only the girls were targeted.

The world of SUBURBAN STRANGE is a pretty cool one, no doubt. I half-wished to be one of the Rosary, and ached with Celia as one after another roadblock was erected between her and Tomasi.

Interested? You can fine THE SUBURBAN STRANGE at your local library (that’s where I got it), Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I already have the sequel, PULL DOWN THE NIGHT, on my actual (not virtual) shelf waiting to be read. You’ll probably hear about it soon…

If you pick up THE SUBURBAN STRANGE, don’t forget to let me know what you thought of it in the comments. I’d also love to hear your take on the Sex-Before-Sixteen premise.  If you were Celia, would you have done the deed to protect yourself from harm?

And, as always, keep reading my friends!