Teen Reviewer Recommends "MO"

Review published February 13th in Sacramento Bee rates young adult novel Just One Mo outstanding

(PRWEB) February 24, 2004--Calling Just One Mo by Paul Wagner a "book worth the read," Hannah Gibson, teenage correspondent for the Sacramento Bee, states: "the book is simple, straight forward and engaging, and has a pertinent message."

In a review published February 13th on the Teen Page of the Bee, Gibson rates the novel outstanding for character development, which, she says, "is necessary in a story where one doesn't want to see anything bad happen to the main characters, yet everything seems to go wrong."

The main characters include Maureen "Mo" Justice and four male classmates-a tight group of loyal friends in the small farm town of Deer Lake, Colorado. Together, writes Gibson, they experience and deal with racism, sexism, bullies, promiscuous sex, pregnancy, first loves, heartbreak, jealousy, acne, drinking, dating, and ultimately, suicide. "The author," says Gibson, "may have been overzealous in afflicting his characters with all the hardships they're forced to endure. But, I would recommend this book to anyone."

Just One Mo is Wagner's third novel about teenagers' trials and tribulations. "I write about young adults," states the author, "because the teen years are such a marvelous period of discovery, challenge, and adventure. Memories of this stage of life are among the most indelible we retain. Individual character is shaped by these experiences, and by what the individual reads."

Here is a sampling of what readers are saying about Just One Mo:

-"Just One Mo is magical. It's one of those books I'll never forget. I fell in love with the characters in the very first chapter. How true it is that once a reader falls in love with the characters of a novel, there is no going back" -Gloria Pimental, grandmother of four

-"I felt it was a good representation of teenage lives and the reader really feels as if he/she is almost walking along with them." -Rachel Jones, age 18

-"I like the story. It has humor, sadness and everything in it. It's very interesting and attracted me from the very beginning. -Taylor Paige Adams, age 14

-"It starts with tension and apprehension. At the end, subconsciously my mind was going, 'Don't let her jump off the pier now! Don't!'" Jenny Hollander, age 12

-"Wagner's writing reminds me of the way Larry McMurtry puts together a story. Just One Mo definitely calls up images of McMurtry's The Last Picture Show. It is a good, fast and exciting read. I recommend it to people of all ages, 10 to 100." --William H. James, age 68.

Just One Mo is Wagner's third young adult novel. His earlier titles are: All Rise: The Criminal Trial of 4 Teens (ISBN 0-595-09151-2,) and The A-Club Mystery (ISBN 1-58500-591-6.) He has also released a collection of more than 50 short stories titled Jock Jokes and Other Stories (ISBN 0-595-30757-4.)

Just One Mo (ISBN 0-595-27223-1,) published by iUniverse, may be ordered from Ingram Book Group, Baker & Taylor, or by calling 1-877-823-9235. It is a paperback book retail priced at $10.95.

The novel may be browsed on the internet by logging on to:

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-27223-1

Hannah Gibson's review of Just One Mo may be read online at:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/teens/story/8254613p-9185243c.html

Other reviews of the book are available at the internet magazine Wagner operates for teens, http://www.aboutteens.org. This site also contains short stories, essays, and jokes submitted by teens, along with a variety of other fun, thought-provoking and educational material.

Wagner lives and writes in Sacramento, California

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For additional information, please contact

Paul Wagner, 5721 Garden Highway

Sacramento, CA 95837 (916) 922-1115

PHWagner@aol.com