Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature

I'm so glad my friend Rhonda recommended this book to me. Although I had a few distractions while reading the beginning chapters on Mena Reece's rejection and isolation, I have managed to stick with the book, and I am really enjoying it. I am on chapter 16, so Mena has met her new biology teacher, Ms. Sheperd, and she is starting to develop a friendship with her lab partner, Casey. I'm really enjoying this chapter (16). I like the part on p. 75 when Ms. Sheperd explains why "evolution rules the day," and closes with "THANK YOU, MUTATIONS." I can just picture this kinda nerdy, sorta chubby, caffeine-crazed science geek, who is totally passionate about her job, with wrinkled clothes, of course, as she says those words. For some reason, I always think of the nerdy girl from Scooby Doo when I think of Ms. Sheperd. Only I picture Ms. Sheperd to be a little heftier.



I also thought Mena's description of how Ms. Sheperd made her feel about biology (bottom of p. 76-77) was pretty cool, and I remembered times when I had felt the same way as Mena about something that I realized in a deeper sense than I ever had before that moment. I also liked the way Mena related this whole feeling and experience to the way she feels about God. To be specific, she said:

"It's just that it all makes sense. In the same way that God makes sense to me sometimes and I really think I can feel Him. I can see the order to things, His purpose behind them. I wish I felt that way more often--about God, I mean-- but whenever I do, it's like someone has pumped up my heart with helium, and I can barely keep from floating off into space."

After reading that part, I started to feel even more as if Mena was a real person that I could relate to, and I wanted to learn more about her and hear more of her story. I also wanted to discuss this quote with others to hear their thoughts.