Johnson, Maureen. The Bermudez Triangle. New York: Razorbill. 2004. ISBN: 978-1-59514-155-2.
Summary:
Mel, Nina and Avery are best friends, so close that they were nicknamed the Bermudez Triangle. The summer before their senior year, Nina goes away to a college prep camp and meets the boy of her dreams. Meanwhile, Mel and Avery find romance…in each other. For Mel, it's what she's always wanted. For Avery, it's nice—a way to sort out some confusion with someone she's already intimate with. But when Mel wants to come out, Avery realizes she doesn't. In fact, she's not sure what she wants and instead of being honest about it, she makes out with a boy. When school starts Nina is caught in the middle.
Critical Evaluation
This fun read is about romance and friendship first. In fact, when Nina finds out that Mel and Avery are dating, she's mostly hurt that they didn't tell her. For Nina, their friendship is more important than their orientations. As for Mel and Avery, their lack of communication ruins their romance and threatens to ruin their friendship too. Also, the book is marketed as a "waterproof beach read" with a water resistant cover. I think that description fits this book perfectly. Mel struggles with coming out and meets strong resistance from her parents, which gay readers may relate too. Avery is an even more interesting character, since she thinks she is bisexual, although she never comes out as such. The lesbian romance is nicely balanced with Nina's romance with Steve and a potential romance with Parker. Overall, a light read appealing to readers of all orientations.
Reader's Annotation
Mel, Avery and Nina are best friends, but now Mel and Avery are more than friends. Nina can deal with that, but can she deal with their breakup? Or will their trio be lost in the Bermudez Triangle?
Genre and Subject
Lesbian romance, general romance, friendship
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness
Breaking up, coming out
Why I choose it
I liked that the story is told from the straight friend's point of view. (Actually, the point of view switches between the three girls.)
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