It feels like this novel expresses a lot of anxiety about class. Many years later Cat recalls this lost friend and how those formative years led her to question her privilege and position in life. The intense bond she formed with Marlena challenged and changed her in ways she didn’t anticipate. Although there would obviously still be opportunities for advancement at her new public high school, Cat turned her back on developing her academic future by befriending her new neighbour Marlena and a group of drug dealers/users who frequently skipped school. At that time, her parents separated in a way which inadvertently derailed Cat’s promising academic progress at a private school. Julie Buntin’s debut novel “Marlena” tells the story of a young woman named Cat reflecting back on one such friendship she formed after moving to a depressed rural Michigan town as a teenager. Our teenage friendships often have such a strong impact on the way we formulate our identities in adulthood.
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