Brownie Points By Jennifer CoburnBROWNIE POINTS by USA TODAY best-selling author Jennifer Coburn, (2012) is the story of today's "typical" all-American family. The Taylor family is moving to suburbia from their home near San Francisco's Castro Street area and50% of them aren't too happy about it.Husband & father Jason is a firefighter who presides wife Lisa to leave their home in San Francisco to move to Los Cordero's so he can advance his firefighting career. Lisa is a sculptor who has been waiting fir her big break for over ten years. Twins Logan and Maya are 13 years old. Jason is black and Lisa is Jewish, making their family a little different to start with, plus Lisa knows in her heart that Logan is gay. She is terrified that their family will not fit in in the gated "white bread" community of "Utopia".At first, almost all of Lisa's fears are realized. Logan is ostracized at his first Utopia birthday and beaten up his first day of school. Lisa is aghast to learn that his new nickname is "Froot Loops" and that neither the school or the aggressor's parents are overly concerned, taking a "boys will be boys" attitude. Adding insult to injury is Jason's refusal to discuss the fact that his son is gay. He feels Logan is too young to know for sure.As Lisa begins to meet the neighbors,(and judge them) she grudgingky admits to herself that she likes Michelle, the Girl Scout troop leader. She asks Michelle if Logan can stay at her house one afternoon during the weekly meeting while she makes a quick trip to the city. Absolutely Michelle says.When Lisa arrives to pick the twins up after the meeting, Michelle tells her what an asset Logan has been. He helped everyone with their art projects, the girls loved him and his project is a piece of art. Lisa is thrilled that he's the happiest he's been since the move.A few nights later, Jason and Lisa are stunned when Logan announces he wants to join the troop. Hoping that Michelle will play bad guy and tell him no(citing Scout by-laws) they say go for it. To Lisa's dismay, far from saying no, Michelle is thrilled to register him. She immediately sends in Logan's application to the Girl Scouts of America.Unfortunately, GSA rejects Logan as the Girl Scouts are for girls and their by-laws are clear. Michelle appeals the decision and gets herself put on probation for her trouble.While disappointed, Logan soldiers on until Maya discovers her African American heritage. Maya meets famed Civil Rights attorney and Los Corderos resident Oliver "Wax" Waxman. After hearing Logan's story, he is convinced he can sue the GSA. (Mainly because he's really hoping to sue the Boy Scouts for discrimination against homosexuals, but this will work too). Jason and Lisa are apprehensive about putting Logan out there, but are eventually worn down by Maya, Logan and Wax.The media picks up the story as soon as a right wing pundit broadcasts it on the local FOX station. (Nevermind that he just wants to stick it to the "Femi-nazi's he hates so much.) Utopia is overrun by journalists, paparazzi and all manner of groups: gay rights, men's rights, the Girl Scouts. While the star in Logan loves that People Magazine is at his door, does he really want to sue the organization he loves? Thus is his dilemma.I truly enjoyed BROWNIE POINTS. It's a mix of the Real Housewives of "Any Suburb", a study in race relations, unfulfilled career goals, LGTB issues and modern family life. Jennifer Coburn captures the characters realistically and without a whole lot of drama and angst. I give Brownie Points FOUR STARS. I would like to also remind readers to check out Ms. Coburn's delightful WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS. When I got this book I was expecting it to be little more something akin to USA Daytime movies that are always shown on Channel5 in the UK. You know the sort of thing - ordinary mum battles against [something] to prove a point. But "Brownie Points" isn't anything like that. Sure there's an issue in there - several in fact - but that isn't the only thing the book is about. Far from it.The plot opens with a family moving from the city to a small 'perfect' gated community that in reality has more going on than every episode of "Desperate Housewives" combined. From there the plot expands towards the main theme, with the son not fitting in with his new peers but finding solace instead with the local girl scout group, which he eventually tries to join.It is at this point that the characters come into their own, not just the leads, but the numerous others, all of whom are so totally fleshed out and, it has to be said, for the most part rather funny.Yes that's right, there's humour in this book. A lot of it subtle, some sarcastic, but with nearly all of it drawn from real life, and especially the way people deal with things they can't - or don't want to - understand. Don't get me wrong. There are some serious point handled in this book, such as the way the US media can totally over-react to events and then attempt to twist them into their own agenda with little, or no, regard for the people involved, but even these are handled with humour, not just from the writer but the other characters. And it has to be said that antics of 'Amy' who is so desperate for the story that she'll do anything no matter how outrages, is a hoot.My one drawback, when I started the book, was just how gay 'Logan' the boy at the centre of the plot was. However as you read through, it becomes clear that he has to be like this in order to take the book forward and thankfully, there are other much less stereotypical gay characters in the book.So all in all a great, and surprisingly fun read, which a message for sure, but one that isn't hammered home, and nice, ending.
What do You think about Brownie Points (2000)?
Got a lot a laughs in this one. Want to read more books by this author.
—Rachel
I really enjoyed this book. Didn't want to put it down, quick read.
—eliseann
