["It's Not What You Expect"] can be consumed in one delicious, non-stop gulp. It is a smooth witty tale which makes one laugh out loud. The action revolves around Oliver and Carla, fourteen-year-old twins, who master-mind a scheme for opening a gourmet restaurant during summer vacation.

Upon leaning back to let the story settle into place, one becomes aware that this book is a very slick statement about the diversity of moral codes prevalent in the America of 1973. The twins react differently to the separation of their parents, their father's affair, and the abortion performed on the girl friend of an older brother in the family.

Carla clearly is upset…. Oliver, on the other hand, has the last word. He equates maturity with acceptance of such things as a natural, normal part of life. Only a naive romantic would lose sleep over them.

The question is, which attitude do you wish to present to young adult readers?