Brian Katcher’s Playing with Matches tells the story of high school junior Leon, a complete nerd with no shot at the girl of his dreams, Amy. To add to his popularity issues, Leon finds himself locker neighbors with Melody. Melody is burn victim whose face has been permanently disfigured. She has no eyebrows and no ears. Her eyes and smile are normal, but the contrast only worsens the effect of the disfigurement. In school, Melody is treated like a pariah. It’s just Leon’s luck that Melody’s locker is moved next to his. But is it really bad luck, as Leon first assumes? A lame joke from Leon and a giggle from Melody starts the two on the path to friendship and eventually more. Though Leon is hesitant to acknowledge the feelings he is developing for Melody, the more he gets to know the girl behind the scars, the more he realizes that she is just the kind of girl he has always wanted. Melody, who has never experienced the attention of a boy before, is guarded at first, but overtime lets her feelings for Leon grow. Leon finally finds himself in a great relationship, but his struggles to accept Melody’s appearance and his inability to move past his obsession with Amy, who is finally showing him some interest, lead Leon to a crisis point. Does he stay with Melody, who he has so much in common with, or does he give it a try with Amy, his long time dream girl? Leon chooses Amy and breaks Melody’s heart only to find that a relationship with Amy is not everything he had thought it would be. Too late, Leon realizes his mistake and tries to win Melody back. Melody, though hurt by Leon’s actions, has also benefited from her time with him: she has a new found confidence, and she is no longer so desperate that she will run right back to his arms. In the end, Melody and Leon take a very small step toward patching up their friendship. However, as Leon points out, she is holding his hand.
I really enjoyed Playing with Matches. Leon is a total screw-up, but he’s a likable screw-up who struggles with some issues that would be tough for any teenager. He makes some serious errors in judgment and hurts a true friend, but he accepts responsibility for his actions and learns from his mistakes. I was particularly taken by Katcher’s decision to write a book of realistic fiction about a disabled teen. It’s not an approach I have seen much in the young adult books I’ve read, but it certainly has a place there. Learning how to treat those who are “different,” whether it be a disability, a disfigurement, or lifestyle, is something we all must learn as we grow into responsible, caring, adult members of society. Leon’s struggle with this lesson is so honest, and teens can learn a lot from his experience. The book could also appeal to those students who are “different,” and the character of Melody sets a great example of how to overcome the obstacle of being “different” and find that inner confidence and acceptance that will then lead to an outer confidence and acceptance by one’s peers. This novel would be a great choice for a school character education program and could spark some meaningful discussions about how we treat one another in today’s world.
References
Katcher, B. (2008). Playing with matches. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books.
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