Lesbians and Communists

by Katia Hetter

High school cheerleader Lois Lenz is torn between makeout sessions with her best friend and a future that includes the local junior college and marriage. Then her new guidance counselor sets her up with a job at a mysterious Bay City ad agency. In Nolan's send-up of 1950s lesbian pulp novels - there's even evil reefer! - Lois discovers lesbian secrets and Communist conspiracies. Will Lois succeed as a secretary and find true love? Or will Communists destroy her chances for happiness? Nolan squeezes her kicky premise for plenty of juice, leaving the pulp deliciously intact.

6S

Katia Hetter is a book critic for Entertainment Weekly. Her six sentences - taken from the magazine's August 3rd, 2007 issue - are her word-for-word review of Monica Nolan's Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary.