Towelhead: Erian, Alicia
A review of the novel Towelhead by Alicia Erian
A review of Alicia Erian's first novel, Towelhead, the story of a teenage girl of mixed heritage finding her own way through puberty, abuse and sexual knowledge.
Towelhead is a stunning first novel from Alicia Erian. Told from the point of view of 13 year old Jasira, we see first hand her struggle to come to grips with a life that has become anything but normal.
The first sentence clues the reader in to a ride that will be anything but ordinary: "My Mother's boyfriend got a crush on me, so she sent me to live with Daddy." With those simple words, we are pulled into the mind of a girl caught between warring parents, a warring country and cruel classmates.
Jasira's father is strict and abusive, and she soon retreats into teenage fantasies to make the constricted life found in his house more bearable. Soon fantasy turns to obsession as she thinks more and more of her neighbor, the bigot army reservist who eventually exploits her innocence.
Add in her black boyfriend, one female friend who also has an unhealthy obsession with a teacher, racist classmates and too much time alone and you get a disturbing stew of sexual unrest, anguish and teenage confusion.
Eventually it is up to the kind neighbors to step in and save Jasira from her self and the adults who do not have her best interests at heart. Will she let them?
Alicia Erian, the author, has addressed everything from child abuse, rape, pregnancy, war, mothers jealous of their daughters, raciscm and loneliness in her debut novel. Instead of being overwhelming or overbearing, her light touch has made this a novel destined to be a classic.
Tags: alicia erian towelhead
