Inferno

by Robin Stevenson

Dante thinks high school is an earthly version of hell. She hates her new home in the suburbs, her best friend has moved away, her homeroom teacher mocks her and her mother is making her attend a social skills group for teenage girls. When a stranger shows up at school and hands Dante a flyer that reads: Woof, woof. You are not a dog. Why are you going to obedience school?, Dante thinks she's found a soul mate. Someone who understands. Someone else who wants to make real changes in the world. But there are all kinds of ways of bringing about change...and some are more dangerous than others.

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Canada, Lesbian, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Teen

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

Robin Stevenson is the award winning author of over thirty books of fiction and non-fiction for kids and teens. Her books have received starred reviews and have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff award and a Stonewall Honor, and been finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, and many reader’s choice awards. Robin was the Book and Periodical Council of Canada’s Champion of Free Expression for 2022, and received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence in 2023. She lives on the west coast of Canada.

Reviews

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 1 out of 5]

INFERNO deals with an overwhelming number of issues in a way that leaves us unsatisfied. In the span of a little over 200 pages, Stevenson tries to deal with rebellion, parental misunderstanding, homosexuality, arson, unhealthy vs. healthy friendships…Whoa! There are probably more that I missed. Just one of these topics is something that deserves a book to itself. Cramming all of these into one book results in me feeling dissatisfied and cheated out of a better, more complete and fulfilling story.

Dante is a mediocre protagonist who makes bad decisions I often can’t relate to; as a result, she hardly garners my respect and empathy. Similarly, Parker, while a compelling IDEA of a character, falls flat in practice. Her personality ranges from enigmatic, strong, and intelligent to scared and indecisive, to flirtatious and manipulative. While it is totally possible that all of these traits exist in one character, in Parker they felt disjointed, as if she were three different characters trying—and failing—to masquerade as one. As a result, I was unable to sympathize with her character, even though I admit that her problems are plenty and definitely deserve attention and maybe even therapy.

Similarly, other supporting characters are either one-dimensional or else so caricature-esque that I couldn’t get into them. Jamie, Parker’s boyfriend, is unrelentingly the angry disenfranchised youth with the unexplained past. Leo, their other friend, has a backstory, but it seems totally separate from the person he is now. Dante’s mother was infuriating, but that was probably for personal reasons. I only wish that Dante’s parents were more complex characters, so I could actually believe their shifts in emotions and the mother-daughter bonding moments. Because right now I don’t believe them.

All hope is NOT lost, however. The plot, while predictable, still managed to capture my attention and keep me reading. This book is really a plot-driven one. INFERNO is a beginners’ introduction to a variety of complex issues that need to be explored at a greater depth. I’m not sure who to recommend this to because there are much better books that discuss these topics out there.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... OK where can i even begin to describe this book, first off let me say this was one of the only gay novels I've read that is more likely to actually happen in reality. I was attached to almost all the characters and being gay myself i found this very believable from cover-to-cover. Robin Stevenson kept me captivated during the entire book and holy crap, i loved every second of it!

[Samantha Boyette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was nothing like I expected. I really thought it was going to be a fantasy having to do with Dante's Inferno. Oh well, shows how much I can tell looking at the cover.

Dante - who used to be Emily but recently changed her name - is not the most happy teenage girl on the planet. She hates her school and her best friend Beth moved away over the summer. Only Beth was more than a friend, but no one knows that.

When she meets a mysterious girl, Parker, outside the school, she finds herself drawn to her and questioning everything in her life except the feelings she has for this girl. Parker takes her under her wing, bringing her into a group that has big plans to change the world.

I pretty much read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it. Dante's feelings all seemed very real from her sadness at the loss of her almost girlfriend to her stilted relationship with her parents. I liked that even though Dante is coming to terms with the fact that she is into girls, this isn't a coming out story. She doesn't even want to tell her parents yet, which in my experience is exactly how that sort of thing happens.

The group of teens trying to change the world are pretty much dumb and short sighted, but that's exactly what they are meant to be. They talk big and have big plans and Dante is drawn to them because they are thinking outside the box. This could have gone a lot farther than it did, and I'm glad the author held back.

This is one of those books that really captures a very small bit of someone's life. There is a lot that isn't fully summed up, which may bother some people. Heck, it usually bothers me. I guess Dante's immediate story was played out fully and that made it easier for me to accept some of the loose ends. Overall I would recommend this book.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was an interesting queer coming-of-age novel (but mostly just a snapshot of a few months of highschool). the story is not very complex, and is somewhat moralistic and depressing, but the characters are really interesting. it's the first time in a very long time that i've read a YA novel that didn't cast cookie-cutter, stereotypical, "i want to be you", type of highschool characters. The main character is constantly soul-searching, confused, lacking role-models, distrusting/hating grown-ups almost universally, and interested in politics and especially Dante's Inferno (where she gets the inspiration for her new name). Dante, the main character and narrator, has a great, skeptical and questioning voice. it's cool that there's a lot of questioning authority and teenage rebellion going on in this book. there are a lot of open questions here that are not resolved.

the one thing that i noticed bothered me a lot in this book is that the narrator keeps secrets from the reader about their history and sexuality. i found it frustrating that one of the only queer characters in YA literature also maintains a closet and level of secrecy that is totally unnecessary given that we are the readers and isn't the point that we see a window into her world? For instance a previous (closeted) relationship Dante has with her best friend, is left completely undescribed but is referred to continually throughout the book. The result is that there is no actual discussion of queer relationships. almost zero. it was extremely weird and frustrating. it left me longing for a YA novel that gives up the details.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quick but satisfying read follows heart-broken Dante (her mom still insists upon calling her Emily) as she finally makes a few friends who might understand how she feels. Parker, James and Leo are rebellious in ways that excite and scare Dante. They don't go to school, and Parker and James even have their own apartment. Dante knows her well-meaning mother did not picture these people when she encouraged her to make some new friends, but these are people who understand how stifling school is for her. Last year, she had Beth to be with, but Beth moved away and won't answer her emails. All Dante is left with are rumors at school about her sexuality (which might be true), and Beth's updated Facebook status.[return]Dante's urge to rebel realistically conflicts with her loyalty to her parents. Although one character is a bit predictable, most of the characters are outsiders and they come across as multi-layered people who seem to have interesting backstories of their own.[return]Instead of just alluding to Dante's Inferno and assuming the readers have read it already, Dante explains aspects of the epic poem that she thinks about and how they relate to her life. High-schoolers might be inspired to read it themselves.[return]If you are a librarian serving teenagers, you should have this book in your collection. It seems so many good books about gay themes are about boys - this has a wonderful female lead. Dante is strong, smart, and has integrity.

[Emily Rozmus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I may have started out not wanting to like this book and that feeling only grew, especially when I figured out it was Canadian. (Grade 10, they don't go to college, they go to university, vague references to living in the big city, but no mention of what city - it was like this author really wanted this to be an American book and was trying to hide the Canadian references. Didn't work). I was hopeful at the end when I thought one thing would happen, but then it didn't. Dante(nee Emily)wants to be someone other than who she is, but really isn't sure who that someone is. She likes girls, but is afraid to own up to her feelings. She doesn't like authority, but still wants to turn her assignments in on time. She thinks her parents are clueless, but still turns to them for help. This book was really about a girl who has choices, but never really makes any. Teens may identify with the plot and the fact that Dante is so sure that everything that is happening to her right now will impact the rest of her life, but this is definitely not a YA book that I would recommend to adults.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging book about a young girl (formerly named Emily) who is trying to find herself within an oppressive high school and disappointed mother. She has an interesting journey and although the content is a little mature (maybe 12+) the writing is very accessible. The book is written from Dante/Emily's point of view which was bang-on for the voice and age of the character.

Read my full review here: http://www.monniblog.com/2010/02/infe...

[Meranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book but only gave it 4 stars because i didn't really like then ending, it was a good ending just not the one i wanted,and i thought the book could of been longer, it felt to short but maybe i just wanted more :P. I loved Dante's character, she was very interesting and fun to read about,and her story was what i got into and just couldn't put it down. Overall a great book :)

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin Stevenson is one of my favourite YA authors right now. Her books are fast paced and her characters are interesting. She manages to pack many issues into her books. I liked that this one was set in Victoria, featured conflicted characters and included arson.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't too thrilled at the outcome of one of her friend’s choices but I do understand that in real life people make mistakes constantly I wish the outcome would have changed but then it wouldn't be as realistic.

[Melissa Wehunt]

Inferno by Robin Stevenson (2009)

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was a bit abrupt, I like Dante as a character, but wanted a bit more character development outside I hate my life and I might be a lesbian.

[Ruby Ridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book that could/should have been good but fell short in so many ways. I tries to address too many issues and fails to cover any of them adequately.
The main character was unrelatable to. Most of her choices made very little sense and it seemed her lesbianism was just tossed in to get the book on the lesbian read lists - it had no effect on the plot.
All of the supporting characters were, at best, cartoonish. Even the parents had no depth so their relationship with their daughter could not be explored.
School did not seem American although no country is ever mentioned
A disappointing read - not recommended

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my young adult materials class. Relatively quick engaging read, I appreciated the mild subversiveness. I found the high school drop out group to be not that believable, why are they mainly protesting high school out of all the social issues there are to choose from, wouldn't they move on? But the book tackled a lot of relatable issues for teens and I thought Dante being utterly alone with her heartbreak and break up with her girlfriend and deciding that she wasn't ready to come out to her parents touching.

[Caroline Mcphail-Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book although I thought there were too many issues trying to be dealt with in a very short time span. Issues such as teen rebellion, teen loves, moving, isolation, gangs, gay issues, school, education, literature, parenting, behaviour issues, parent-child relationships to name a few, therefore there was not much resolution at the end, although there is an end.

[Jordanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

dont waste your time

[Shawna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dante begins a new school year without her best(and only) friend and her parents try to make her something she's not and she hates it. Then, she meets Parker and her group of friends. As they hang out more, Dante starts having feelings for Parker, lying to her parents and sneaking out late at night. When her friends plan to burn down her school, she once again disobeys her parents' orders, sneaks out with Parker and tries to stop their friends.

I picked this book because the front cover caught my eye. Also, after reading the back cover, it seemed interesting without giving away too much.

I finished this book because I wanted to know if her friends really did burn down her school or would chicken out. I also wondered if she would get over her best friend and if she'd be comfortable in the end to tell people about her sexuality.

I recommend this book to people who like to read books about the character trying to find themselves and where they fit in.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teenage years: maturation, rebellion, identity crisis, sense of belonging. All of the issues are experieced by Dante, a sixteen year old high school student. When I read books, I think of how I might be able to use them within the classroom. Although the teen issues are some that many students can relate to, because of Stevenson's intense use of language and some events in the book are really extreme, I would recommend this book be used for a book club. I wouldn't assign it as a class read. As educators we also have to be aware of what our student's parents deem appropriate and inappropriate. Some parents may view this book as inappropriate because of the topics that arise within it. This book would be suitable for mature readers. I would suggest grade 11 and up.

[Sam Y. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a quick read, fortunately. The main character Dante is completely obnoxious and filled-to-the-brim with teen angst stereotypes. What the author fails to do is draw enough believable parallels between school and jail, and because this argument drives about 85% of the book, I found myself internally mocking all the characters.

It's not very realistic either: the characters don't feel very complete; they feel flat. The whole lesbian part of the story was casually tossed in, and it felt unnecessary. The author should have either made it a bigger problem or just cut it out completely.

Overall, the story had too man topics to handle, and the whole thing just falls apart into a mess. I would not recommend it.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't really get into this one, possibly because I couldn't relate to the main character. Dante is very angry about being forced to go to school, is a lesbian, and is quite rebellious at times. I would have never thought or done most of the things she does, so she was hard to relate with and also was quite frustrating to read about. The decision to commit arson came very quickly and then there was no real planning time... they just went out and did it. I found that a bit unrealistic, and also had no idea where Jamie was coming from. They never really explained him as a character like they did the others. This book just didn't do anything for me.

[Daria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be a 2.5 for me. It was an OK read, but I never really felt connected to the characters. There also seemed to be too many "issues" packed into this fairly short story. It left me me feeling like none of them were ever fully explored or developed.

[Christy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh - too many things trying to be addressed in one tiny little book. I liked the main character Dante but she made some dumb choices for a very smart girl.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't even think I finished this book because it made me terribly uncomfortable. The amount of rebellious behavior was very un-relatable for me and it all was without real reason.

[Nat · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main character (Dante) was annoying and whiney. The themes could have been explored in a much better way. Nothing special about this book.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well-written book with a good starting point that ultimately ended in a non-climatic way with shallow, unlikable characters.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars