Sharon Frejer and her single mom spent years with her mother’s violent brother Lawrence. Now, they have moved to Edmonton to live with Sharon’s Uncle Bert, an overly critical bigot. As Sharon begins Grade 8 at her new school, she is a study in low self-esteem, hiding behind a curtain of hair, hoping everyone will leave her alone. But a classmate, Fern Thompson, is attracted by Sharon’s need for protection, and Sharon tentatively begins to make the first real friend she’s ever known.

Beth Goobie is very good at conveying the feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness that kids like Sharon feel, but I’m Not Convinced suffers from lack of direction. While Sharon and Fern become friends, the story seems aimless. Is Sharon going to reveal that she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her Uncle Lawrence? Is Fern, who plays with matches, an arsonist? Goobie makes these suggestions, but nothing develops. It is impossible to determine where the story is going.

Not until chapter 18 does the plot come into focus. Then, Fern decides to interview Richard Calliou in front of her class for an assignment on native culture. Richard is a disabled Cree who lives in a group home. Sharon plays a bigot who questions everything Richard says. Until that point, Richard’s role in the story has been unclear. He might have been just one of many red herrings in this plot. From that moment on, readers see that this book is about the meeting of Sharon and Richard, and how his battle against bigotry gives Sharon a role model that helps her to rise above her feelings of worthlessness.

The last third of the book is very good. The story has clear direction, the plot moves along swiftly, the characters are more engaging and develop in meaningful ways. But readers may not stick it out to that point. This is frustrating. Goobie is a talented writer. Why is her work in this book so technically flawed? With fine-tuning, I’m Not Convinced could have been a much better book.