Ventura and Zelzah
Set in suburban Los Angeles in 1975, Ventura and Zelzah follows Douglas and his friends from the end of their eighth-grade year through the summer and into the first few months of ninth grade. After proving himself to his parents through good grades and an assortment of odd jobs, Douglas is let loose for the summer. He spends time with his friends, venturing through the Valley, riding roller coasters at Magic Mountain, partying, going to the movies to see Jaws, and playing countless hours of basketball, all while struggling to maintain a balance between his fledgling romance with Natalia and his buddies Ronnie, Weddy, and Hank.
Ventura and Zelzah is a coming-of-age story filled with laughter, adventures, high-jinx, and friendship. The Valley setting is palpable. It is nostalgic and magical. Written for readers ages 15 and up, the story reads like a memoir, more like an adult reliving their adolescence, than a true YA. Bryan often goes off on tangents, amusing though they may be, that add little to Douglas’s growth or character. These tangents, however, might make the story more appealing to adults who wish to relive their days of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
