Barbara Bailey

Ascent Barbara Bailey

Ascent: Taking Off is a trilogy that includes two separately published novels, When I Get Older I'll Understand and Changing Course, and the new, dynamic culmination novel, Debutante. The first novel introduces Joan Williams, a teenager growing up in Chicago. Typical of most girls her age, she likes school, boys, and hanging out with her friends. Joan and her girlfriends are about to enter high school where, all too often, acceptance is based on how you look and dress. Surrounded by her popular friends, Joan struggles to establish her own identity and to discover what she wants to do with her life. Caught in that uncertain stage between childhood and swiftly approaching adulthood, Joan must make difficult decisions about friendship, dating, and life after high school. In the second novel, as the title suggests, events are not following her parents' preferences. Changing Course, takes place during the last months of Joan's junior year of high school. The shy teen, who wasn't included in social groups for herself, is changing. She is learning more about who she is, what she wants, and how to be part of the social scene without comprising her integrity. Debutante, appearing for the first time, finds our main character fully center stage. For Joan Williams, life should be easy, but she has obstacles to surmount. Some of her problems come from the most unexpected sources. New characters enter the story and familiar ones become more dimensional. The story has complexities that aren't all resolved in predictable ways. This last novel of the coming-of-age trilogy successfully blends, drama, mystery, and love. Enjoy what you discover about Joan, her time period, and perhaps even yourself. Time spent with Joan is time well spent.