Back in Print: Zoo Station (formerly Christiane F.)

The much lamented house flood that took with it most of my paperback book collection several years ago, claimed several rare, pricey items including the U.S. mass market paperback version of Christiane F.: Autobiography of a Girl of the Streets and Heroin Addict, published by Bantam in '82.

Happily, I've just learned that a newly translated English-language version has just hit the U.S. market for the first time in 30+ years.  Though I would really like my old copy back for its retro, nostalgic qualities and rarity, it's good that this book will finally be available again to English-speaking readers, particularly the young adult audience this scary cautionary tale was intended for.  There's a really interesting look behind the scenes of how this new edition came to be and what went into its re-translation...I hope this means the story's rough edges and graphic content won't be softened to satisfy the inevitable zealots.  As effective as this story is--and true--I think it's safe to assume this will not be welcomed with open arms in all U.S. high school curricula, sadly.