Author: Jandy Nelson
Description: Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transfer from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding. This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie’s struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.
Review: When Lennie's older sister Bailey dies, she is left feeling lost. She has no identity when she is no longer one of the Walker sisters, no longer Bailey's sidekick. Bailey was always the passionate, wild, spirited force in Lennie's life and without her Lennie doesn't know what to be. She returns to school to find the new boy in town, Joe, filling in for her in band. Like just about every other girl in school, she is fascinated by his wide smile and stunning musical talent. At the same time, she finds herself looking to Bailey's boyfriend Toby, for comfort. He seems to be the only one who truly realizes her pain and by being with him, she feels Bailey's presence. When Joe reaches out to her, she finds herself caught between loving Joe, and wanting to feel Bailey around her. As she struggles with this emotional tug of war, she realizes who she truly is and was all along, a spirit within her that was simply hiding in Bailey's shadow that has now been set free. From the beginning of this book I was enchanted by the essence that is Bailey and Lennie, as they are both those mysterious girls you just can't get enough of. I was really moved by this book and the pain, but also love that it contains.
Bottom Line: This book is very raw and real and I recommend it to anyone who can tolerate a little grief, as it is not a completely sunny and happy book, but also to anyone who likes the heartwarming feeling of first love and self discovery.
Rating(1-5): 5
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