Review: Now and Zen

Now and Zen

Linda Gerber

Nori Tanaka practically jumps at the chance to be a part of the summer study abroad program being held in Tokyo, Japan. She truly believes that if she leaves, her parents will be able to work out their problems. And, besides, Nori will get the chance to take A.P. classes in another country—away from her parents and their attempts to control her life.

Here comes the trouble: Nori may have a Japanese heritage, but that does not mean that she is a native. But when the very cute German student Erik asks her to be his native tour guide, she figures, what harm could it do? Mix in her cute native savior Atsushi, and her mother’s attempt to continue to control Nori’s life, and Nori is in for one interesting summer.

Now and Zen is part of the S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) series. In this novel, Linda Gerber attempts to break the culture barrier between teens everywhere with a problem common to all, and she definitely succeeds! I enjoyed reading about Nori’s journey to finding herself in her true heritage. Readers, be sure to check out the other novels in the S.A.S.S. series, and look for Gerber’s newest novel Death by Bikini, in stores soon.