Montreal writer Jill Murray’s debut novel is the kind of book that will be loved by parents bemoaning the generally sorry state of YA lit for girls. It will also be loved by their whip-smart bookworm daughters. From its original plot, centred on the world of breakdancing, to its determined, complex heroine, Break on Through is an engaging slice-of-life read for teens interested in something beyond the usual boys-and-gossip plotlines.

Not that there isn’t some of that here, too – after all, protagonist Nadine “Lady Six Sky” Durant is a normal 15-year-old who hangs with her friends and is conscious about sporting the latest styles. But Nadine is more interested in busting a move than in hitting the mall. A member of Tha Rackit Klub breakdancing crew, she’s heartbroken when her parents move the family out of Toronto’s downtown Parkdale neighbourhood into the suburbs of Rivercrest just before the biggest breakdancing competition in town.

While many authors struggle with writing in a teen’s voice, Murray nails the first-person narration by the emotional-yet-steely Nadine, who’s able to push herself into the air on one hand while breakdancing, but isn’t quite as strong when it comes to realizing she might be upset about the impending arrival of her baby sister.

Murray also deftly handles the often-arcane terminology of breakdancing, offering up brief but vivid descriptions of the “six steps,” “top rocks,” and “windmills” that Nadine and her gang execute after school. It’s hugely refreshing to read such a thoroughly urban Canadian novel – the hip-hop-flavoured story plays well against the backdrop of big-city downtown-versus-suburbia tension.

Though some of the dialogue comes across as a bit simplistic, and issues of sexism within the breakdancing scene never get fully fleshed out, for the most part, Break on Through mirrors the youthfulness and energy of its subject matter.