Dare to have faith...
CRAZY MARY is the second in John Benton's series drawn from the real experiences of girls who stayed at his Walter Hoving Homes of Garrison, New York and Pasadena, California, to turn their lives around with the help of the Lord. It's a little different from the others I've read, but I'll try not to give away why.
The story starts skittishly with Mary Snyder, a Long Island teenager with a long-held reputation of taking any dare (and, more often than not, emerging triumphantly),
driving home from a party late one night. I say "skittishly" not just because of what she means by "going home" this night but the opening paragraph has the feel of Mary's vehicle's performance. But eventually she and the story get started--and what a turn her tale takes! When she awakens in the hospital to a chorus of "you are one lucky young lady," why is it that not only does she disagree, but she also demands the doctors and nurses to let her die? She lives to explain her reasons, which are there to welcome her home when she's finally discharged. In fact, things are soon worse than ever. Mary's mother decides to take her to the family doctor and ask him to help Mary with her drinking problem. Of course Mary insists that she doesn't have a drinking problem, especially compared to most of the kids at school. But Mary's mother insists, and the doctor prescribes a stay at "a clinic in Roslyn"--in un-PC slang terms, a "nut house." Mary vehemently objects, but soon finds herself there anyway. The unpleasant experience is soon over and she's back at home, but a blink of an eye finds her trying to get re-admitted! Soon she discovers that a school friend has also ended up there, and the two plot to break out (almost-predictable remark alert....). From then on it gets worse and worse for "Crazy Mary." Is she really "crazy," or will being in a psychiatric facility bring it on? No matter what the answer to that question is, how could Mary's situation ever improve? Is there any hope for her whatsoever?
As in DEBBIE and most of the Benton books I've read, some character names are not-so-ordinary, including the aliases used by some of the girls. The books are easy to read and almost squeaky-clean compared to today's YA fiction. They're easy to find here at alibris.com, so give them a try; CRAZY MARY would be a good starting point.
