Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.chelseasedoti.com/
CITY: Las Vegas
STATE: NV
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2016064303
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2016064303
HEADING: Sedoti, Chelsea
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100 1_ |a Sedoti, Chelsea
670 __ |a The hundred lies of Lizzie Lovett, 2017: |b ECIP t.p. (Chelsea Sedoti)
953 __ |a xk09
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AVOCATIONS:Rock climbing, baking, and exploring the Mojave Desert.
WRITINGS
Contributor to Pantheon and Helen: A Literary Magazine.
SIDELIGHTS
Chelsea Sedoti is a writer of young adult fiction. She has lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, for most of her life. She reads, writes, eats diner food, explores abandoned places, roams the Mojave Desert, and rock climbs even though she’s afraid of heights. She has worked as a filmmaker and paranormal investigator. Her short stories have been published in a variety of places, including Pantheon and the local Nevada Helen: A Literary Magazine.
In 2017, Sedoti published the coming-of-age young-adult novel, The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett. In the sleepy blue-collar town of Griffin Mills near Pittsburgh, popular girl Lizzie Lovett goes missing while on a camping trip. Seventeen-year-old misfit outcast Hawthorn Creely has always resented Lizzie, who is four years older, ever since a snub back in high school when Hawthorn was a freshman and Lizzie was a senior. Sarcastic and often rude, Hawthorn has an overactive imagination and comes up with some strange explanations for Lizzie’s disappearance. One of which involves werewolves.
Hawthorn becomes obsessed with Lizzie and decides to insert herself into Lizzie’s missing person’s investigation. To do this, she begins dating Lizzie’s artist boyfriend, Enzo, who she learns is having a far less interesting post-graduation life than he did as popular kid during high school. Hawthorn also gets a job at the diner Lizzie worked at and visits the places Lizzie used to go to. She learns that Lizzie’s life after high school is also much different than she expected. As an outsider, Hawthorn had always envied Lizzie’s life. But Hawthorn is a selfish girl, with angst about the future and insecurities. Her quest for proof of her bizarre theories about Lizzie drives a heart-wrenching story as she navigates mean girls, school dances, social isolation, and sex and alcohol. In Publishers Weekly Online, a reviewer commented: “Hawthorn and Lizzie both emerge as surprising, intricate characters whose stories are resonant and memorable.” Along the way, Hawthorne learns about herself, and her need for some excitement and adventure in her life.
Besides bullies at school, Hawthorn is dealing with her wanna-be hippie mother, popular brother, and her one friend, all of whom criticize her yet also support her. In Voice of Youth Advocates, Lucy Shall commented: “This coming-of-age/mystery novel is character driven and very light on action.” Although some readers may not appreciate the nontraditional approach to the whodunit story and Hawthorn’s odd responses to various situations, “other readers may find her eccentricities refreshingly honest,” and project an authentic teen voice, according to Eva Thaler-Sroussi in Library Journal.
Based on a real case of a missing girl mentioned in the local Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper, the plot for the book drew the attention of Sedoti as she followed the case with interest. “It made me think about if there was a character that was similarly invested in a case like this,” Sedoti said in an interview with Kayla Dean online at Vegas Seven. “What if she didn’t know how to stop? What if she got herself in deeper and deeper?” Despite the major event of Lizzie going missing “it’s always Hawthorn’s story. … Everything that happens isn’t quite as important as the personal journey that the characters are going on.”
According to Kimberly Giarratano in Bookpage, Hawthorn is one of the most relatable characters in recent young adult literature; she is bored, unable to connect with girls her own age, and unsure how to relate in a complex world. Giarrantano remarked: “This mystery is less about finding a missing girl as it is about finding happiness and purpose.” Noting the all-white cast, a writer in Kirkus Reviews said: “Hawthorn tells it all with a realistic voice. A solid coming-of-age novel with light spunk and individuality.” Kristin Downer observed on the Nerd Problems website: “Sedoti has taken a subject that is hard for some to read and turned it into an intriguing, nerve-wracking, story intertwined with lessons on love, growing up, and over imagination.” While Hawthorn was annoying and obsessive, Downer added that Sedoti succeeds in dragging emotion of the readers even if they end up disliking the main character.
As Hawthorn tries to understand Lizzie, she slowly comes to understand herself, with the help of those around her. Praising the rich cast of secondary characters, the caravan of hippies camping in her backyard, and character-driven novels, Sarah Hunter said in Booklist that The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett “offers an enlightening look at the dangers of relying on outward appearances to judge someone’s character.” Online at the Story Sanctuary, reviewer Kasey Giard liked Hawthorn’s transforming journey toward discovering her place in the world, saying: “Hawthorn’s voice has to be the strongest part of this story. … This is one of those stories with deeply flawed characters.” Online at My Trending Stories, a reviewer said the book was so beautifully written and “This book destroyed me emotionally.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 15, 2016, Sarah Hunter, review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, p. 54.
Bookpage, January, 2017, Kimberly Giarratano, review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, p. 28.
Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2016, review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett.
Library Journal, November, 2016, Eva Thaler-Sroussi, review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett.
Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 2016, Lucy Schall, review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, p. 66.
ONLINE
Chelsea Sedoti Website, http://www.chelseasedoti.com (August 1, 2017), author profile.
My Trending Stories, https://mytrendingstories.com/ (June 22, 2016), review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett.
Publishers Weekly Online, https://www.publishersweekly.com/ (August 21, 2017), review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett.
Story Sanctuary, http://thestorysanctuary.com/ (January 11, 2017), Kasey Giard, review of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett.
Vegas Seven, http://vegasseven.com/ (January 21, 2017), Kayla Dean, author interview.*
About Me
Chelsea SedotiThis is the part where I tell you about myself.
I’m supposed to list how awesome/unique/fascinating I am. The truth is, that’s the kind of thing that makes my mind instantly go blank.
The first thing you should know about me: I’m very shy.
No.
The first thing you should know is that I’m a writer.
A shy writer.
Who does better writing about characters than herself.
Here’s an easy one:
I’ve lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for most of my life. It’s a weird place. I’m not a fan of casinos, but I love the Mojave Desert. I also love the woods and hills and dying steel mill towns of eastern Ohio, which is where my family is from. I wish I could split my time between both places.
So that’s something about me.
Here’s more:
I have a nerdy-cool husband and a goofy dog and evil cat. I read a lot of books. I think Mad Men is the best show ever made. I rock climb, even though I’m afraid of heights. I would eat red velvet cupcakes from the Cupcakery every day if I could. One of my favorite things in the world is exploring abandoned places.
Another thing:
I love writing because it lets me have adventures. I love writing because it is an adventure.
That’s what you should know about me: I think everything should feel like an adventure.
With a little effort, it can.
Chelsea Sedoti fell in love with writing at a young age after discovering that making up stories was more fun than doing her school work (her teachers didn’t always appreciate this.) In an effort to avoid getting a “real” job, Chelsea explored careers as a balloon twister, filmmaker, and paranormal investigator. Eventually she realized that her true passion is writing about flawed teenagers who are also afraid of growing up. When she’s not at the computer, Chelsea spends her time exploring abandoned buildings, eating junk food at roadside diners, and trying to befriend every animal in the world. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where she avoids casinos, but loves roaming the Mojave Desert.
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CONTEMPORARY YA / MEET THE AUTHOR
Meet the Author: Chelsea Sedoti
Posted on July 20, 2016 by THESWANKY17S Leave a comment
Chelsea SedotiChelsea Sedoti lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her short stories have been published in a variety of places, including Pantheon Magazine and Helen: A Literary Magazine. When she’s not writing, Chelsea spends her time rock climbing, baking and exploring the Mojave Desert.
Chelsea’s debut THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT (Sourcebooks Fire, January 3, 2017) is a Young Adult Contemporary Novel. Hawthorn Creely knows what really happened the night her classmate, Lizzie Lovett, vanished in the woods. Sure, her theory is a little crazy, but that only makes Hawthorn more determined to prove it true. Hawthorn launches her own investigation into Lizzie’s disappearance without stopping to ask herself the most important question of all—what if she’s wrong?
Fun Facts:
The two or three items Chelsea needs with her when she sits down to write: My laptop and a massive pile of junk food.
The literary character she’d most like to meet: Roland Deschain from The Dark Tower books. I would happily join his Ka-tet.
Her favorite childhood book: Fall Into Darkness by Christopher Pike (while I adore RL Stine, I was always more of a Christopher Pike girl).
Hobbies when not writing/reading: Urban exploration, hiking, baking, playing video games, having adventures.
Favorite Muppet and why: Rizzo, of course. Because Rizzo is awesome. (True story: When I was a teenager I had a cat named Rizzo. Everyone assumed it was after the character in Grease. Nope!)
The craziest thing she did when she was 17: I regularly convinced my friends to go for middle-of-the-night hikes or off-roading sessions (in non-off-road vehicles). I was not a smart 17 year old.
If she could travel anywhere in the world, where would she go: Westeros. Oh wait, this world? I’ve always wanted to visit New Orleans—just not during Mardi Gras. I can’t handle that level of crazy.
Where to find her:
Website/Twitter/Goodreads Author Page/Goodreads Book Page/Instagram
Photo by Krystal Ramirez
Local Young Adult Author Chelsea Sedoti Knows Her Audience
BOOKSTuesday, January 31 12:39pmBy Kayla Dean
The spark for local author Chelsea Sedoti’s breakout YA (young adult) novel, The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett (Sourcebooks Fire, $17.99), began with an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal about a missing girl. Sedoti followed the local case, but found herself getting too close for comfort when she started clipping articles about the search efforts. This was when she knew she had a story on her hands.
“It made me think about if there was a character that was similarly invested in a case like this,” Sedoti says. “What if she didn’t know how to stop? What if she got herself in deeper and deeper?”
Although Sedoti published short stories in Patheon magazine and the local Helen: A Literary Magazine (she later read the same story at the 2015 Vegas Valley Book Festival), this was the first novel she wrote, queried and published. If you know the industry, then you understand that this rarely happens—never mind the buzz Lizzie received at popular book conventions such as Book Expo America. It’s clear that readers had been waiting for this book: Bustle.com even debuted a sneak-peek of the novel.
“Every book I ever write will probably be the same way. Everything that happens isn’t quite as important as the personal journey that the characters are going on.” – Chelsea Sedoti
What’s unique about Sedoti’s novel is the introspective, sarcastic voice of 17-year-old Hawthorn Creely, who’s tired of her mundane existence in a sleepy Ohio town. When a former classmate, Lizzie Lovett, never returns from a camping trip, Hawthorn can’t stop herself from investigating, even if it means taking over Lizzie’s old job at a local diner or spending time with Lizzie’s boyfriend who just may have killed her. At first the book has the feel of a mystery, but it soon turns into a story of self-discovery. Sedoti deals with serious subjects, but it’s her dark humor that engages readers.
“There’s the central question of what happened to Lizzie,” Sedoti says. “But it’s always Hawthorn’s story. It’s really a coming-of-age story, first and foremost. Every book I ever write will probably be the same way. Everything that happens isn’t quite as important as the personal journey that the characters are going on.”
Photo: Krystal Ramirez
Sedoti’s writing process always starts with a character, and it’s this singular focus that has already made her a standout. But as Sedoti’s favorite authors range from John Irving to Jandy Nelson, it’s no surprise that Lizzie has such a distinctive voice. Several early teen readers already contacted Sedoti to tell her that the novel described the way they felt because Hawthorn is so relatable.
“When you know that’s the audience you’re trying to reach,” says Sedoti, “having a teenager say that to you is really special.”
Although Sedoti has interacted with the literary scene in Las Vegas, she’s quick to point out that the city’s circle of YA writers is still emerging, and she’s hopeful about its future. Her next book is set near Rachel, Nevada, just off the Extraterrestrial Highway, set for release in 2018.
“I keep waiting for a point in the process when this will start to feel like real life,” Sedoti says. “Writing is a lot busier than I thought it was going to be. There’s a lot of time spent not writing. I think that’s probably the biggest surprise.”
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
Kimberly Giarratano
BookPage.
(Jan. 2017): p28.
COPYRIGHT 2017 BookPage
http://bookpage.com/
Full Text:
THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT
By Chelsea Sedoti
Sourcebooks Fire
$17.99, 400 pages
ISBN 9781492636083
eBook available
Ages 14 and up
FICTION
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Despite the title, this engaging mystery from debut author Chelsea Sedoti isn't about the popular, enviable Lizzie, but about 17-year-old Hawthorn
Creely, the lonely outcast who becomes obsessed with Lizzie's disappearance. Hawthorn has always been a loner. Her sarcasm, dry wit and
occasional rudeness have left her with only one friend, and even that relationship hangs by a thread. So when Lizzie is reported missing,
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Hawthorn inserts herself into Lizzie's old life by taking over Lizzie's former job and hanging out with Enzo, Lizzie's sulky artist boyfriend. As
Hawthorn and Enzo connect over Lizzie, Hawthorn is enlivened by her new adventures, but they come at the expense of a tragedy.
Hawthorn is one of the most relatable characters in recent young adult literature. Her unhappiness stems from her inability to connect to people
her own age and her subsequent boredom. She lives mostly in her own head, choosing to find magic in movies, books and her imagination rather
than the world around her.
This mystery is less about finding a missing girl as it is about finding happiness and purpose in a complex, often contradictory world.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Giarratano, Kimberly. "The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett." BookPage, Jan. 2017, p. 28. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475225458&it=r&asid=50777fa1f06611a6ff2c90847dcc5972. Accessed 9 July 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A475225458
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Sedoti, Chelsea. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
Lucy Schall
Voice of Youth Advocates.
39.5 (Dec. 2016): p66.
COPYRIGHT 2016 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
2Q * 2P * J * S
Sedoti, Chelsea. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett. Sourcebooks Fire, 2017.400p. $17.99. 978-1-4926-3608-3.
When popular, happy Lizzie Lovett goes missing, seventeen-year-old Hawthorn imagines that Lizzie is transitioning into a werewolf. With
jealousy cloaked in fantasy, Hawthorn takes Lizzie's former job and starts hanging around Lizzie's twenty-something boyfriend, under the guise
of investigating what happened to Lizzie. Hawthorn discovers that Lizzie's high-school star boyfriend has a pathetic post-graduation life.
Hawthorn's obsession over Lizzie allows her to hide from school bullies who harass her about her appearance, her wild ideas, and her mother's
wanna-be hippie lifestyle. Her popular brother, his friend, and Hawthorne's one good friend criticize and support her throughout her journey,
hoping that she will eventually stand up for herself and develop realistic relationships.
Following Hawthorn through four hundred pages of teen angst is a disjointed journey filled with jumbled details that muddy the plot and purpose.
Losing her virginity to a twenty-something directionless boyfriend is but one irritating part of several bad days. Hawthorn expresses great
compassion for the dead Lizzie she never liked, but the search for clues goes nowhere. Perhaps Hawthorne learns about herself, and her desire for
more excitement, more adventure, in her life. In the final, rather didactic but light-hearted paragraphs, Hawthorn sums up what she has learned;
she promises to see magic, not create it, but she does not have a clear path forward to success. This coming-of-age/mystery novel is characterdriven
and very light on action. Consider it an additional purchase for most libraries.--Lucy Schall.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Schall, Lucy. "Sedoti, Chelsea. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett." Voice of Youth Advocates, Dec. 2016, p. 66. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA474767957&it=r&asid=3d9652dea6fdb96d0d33203fc03c8ad2. Accessed 9 July
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A474767957
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Sedoti, Chelsea: THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE
LOVETT
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Sedoti, Chelsea THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT Sourcebooks Fire (Children's Fiction) $17.99 1, 3 ISBN: 978-1-4926-3608-3
Hawthorn Creely always hated Lizzie Lovett, so why is she distraught when Lizzie goes missing in this seamless blend of mystery and
relationship fiction?Nothing big ever happens in small-town, blue-collar Griffin Mills (45 minutes from Pittsburgh), until once-popular Lizzie
Lovett disappears while camping with her boyfriend. High school senior Hawthorn (named by her flower-child mother) knew Lizzie when she
was a freshman and Lizzie was a senior dating her older brother. Hawthorn, ever the outsider, envied Lizzie's happiness, but when she begins to
learn tidbits about Lizzie's much-different life after high school, she becomes obsessed with finding out more and even trying to find her. She
turns to Lorenzo Calvetti, Lizzie's boyfriend at the time of her disappearance (even though he could be her killer since...gulp, murder hasn't been
ruled out), to help collect clues and solve the mystery. In yet another Gone Girl variation, the story is less about the twists and more about the
search. But Hawthorn's search for Lizzie turns into a search for self as she yearns for adventure and love (and sex?). Adding to the seemingly allwhite
cast of characters, authentic given the setting, are an old friend, bullies, and a caravan of hippies, who offer more struggles and wisdom.
Hawthorn tells it all with a realistic voice. A solid coming-of-age novel with light spunk and individuality. (Fiction. 14-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Sedoti, Chelsea: THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466329251&it=r&asid=0e8162f16b2b2b8d023ab7d072d3dc09. Accessed 9 July
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466329251
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Chelsea Sedoti: THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE
LOVETT
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Chelsea Sedoti THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT Sourcebooks Fire (Adult Fiction) 17.99 ISBN: 978-1-4926-3608-3
Hawthorn Creely always hated Lizzie Lovett, so why is she distraught when Lizzie goes missing in this seamless blend of mystery and
relationship fiction?Nothing big ever happens in small-town, blue-collar Griffin Mills (45 minutes from Pittsburgh), until once-popular Lizzie
Lovett disappears while camping with her boyfriend. High school senior Hawthorn (named by her flower-child mother) knew Lizzie when she
was a freshman and Lizzie was a senior dating her older brother. Hawthorn, ever the outsider, envied Lizzie’s happiness, but when she
begins to learn tidbits about Lizzie’s much-different life after high school, she becomes obsessed with finding out more and even trying
to find her. She turns to Lorenzo Calvetti, Lizzie’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance (even though he could be her killer
since…gulp, murder hasn’t been ruled out), to help collect clues and solve the mystery. In yet another Gone Girl variation, the
story is less about the twists and more about the search. But Hawthorn’s search for Lizzie turns into a search for self as she yearns for
adventure and love (and sex?). Adding to the seemingly all-white cast of characters, authentic given the setting, are an old friend, bullies, and a
caravan of hippies, who offer more struggles and wisdom. Hawthorn tells it all with a realistic voice. A solid coming-of-age novel with light
spunk and individuality. (Fiction. 14-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Chelsea Sedoti: THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466551501&it=r&asid=afb61c9677b48fc4b4dd615e05ca7321. Accessed 9 July
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466551501
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Spotlight on first novels
Booklist.
113.4 (Oct. 15, 2016): p54.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Older Readers
The Baby. By Lisa Drakeford. Oct. 2016.256p. Scholastic/Chicken House, 517.99 (97805459402761; e book, 517.99 (9780545942843). Gr. 9-12.
Olivia's seventeenth birthday party is everything she wanted it to be; her best friends Nicola and Ben dancing around her; her weird younger
sister, Alice, quietly confined to her bedroom; her boyfriend, Jonty, looming lovingly (if somewhat possessively) by her side. But when Olivia
discovers Nicola in the bathroom giving birth to a baby she didn't even know she was having--Jonty's baby--the celebration comes to a crashing
halt. Over the next few months, Olivia, Nicola, Jonty, Alice, and Ben adjust to life with Nicola's baby, Eliza. Olivia struggles to forgive her friend,
while Alice attempts to make a new one; Nicola takes to motherhood with relative ease, leaning on Ben for his support and constant
companionship; and Jonty initially resists his responsibilities as a father. While relevant issues like domestic violence and autism are woven
gracefully across the narratives, the resulting conflicts are too neatly wrapped up. Written in alternating third-person voices, Drakeford's debut
transforms the stark and grim realities of teen pregnancy into much fluffier fare, complete with a surprising, rom-com-worthy eleventh-hour
twist.--Rebecca Kuss
Everyone We've Been. By Sarah Everett. Oct. 2016.400p. Knopf, 517.99 (9780553538441); lib. ed" 520.99 (9780553538458); e-book, 517.99
(9780553538465). Gr. 9-12.
Before: Addison Sullivan is falling in love with Zach. After: Addison is in a bus accident and keeps seeing a mysterious guy from the crash
wherever she goes. Before: Addison's viola music fills the lonely place inside of her, making her feel whole again. After: her parents' divorce has
ruined the family, and home feels underwater. To finally solve all of her problems, Addison heads to the Overton Clinic for a memory treatment.
This delightfully confusing narrative will have readers thinking they understand it, before it yanks the rug from underneath them. (They'll enjoy
the tumble.) Everett gives readers sweet romance and solid friendships and then sprinkles on a pinch of sci-fi: a procedure that can erase painful
memories. The implications of this procedure will leave readers pondering the way the way their hearts break and how they remember the ones
they lost. Everett's story is an effective look at the kind of love you dream about and the kind you should never forget. --Karen Ginman
Flashfall. By Jenny Moyer. Nov. 2016.352p. Holt, 517.99 (9781627794817). Gr. 9-12.
Orion, 16, has a special ability to locate cirian, a valuable element that prevents radiation sickness--and in their postradioactive, flash-curtain
world, cirian is essential. Subpars (mine workers) like Orion and her fellow Outpost Five residents will spend--and likely lose--their lives mining
it. But if they can gather a total of 400 grams, subpars can escape to the protected city of Alara, though no one has ever lived long enough to do
so. Orion and her mining partner, Dram, however, are close to achieving this goal when Orion discovers the corrupt politics behind cirian and
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realizes revolution is what's needed. Moyer has constructed a cinematic page-turner: there's gore, romance, daring rescues, political commentary,
and a strong message of social justice. Multiple small details of the rituals that sustain subpars in their grim life lend verisimilitude to the world
Moyer has created. Although character development takes a backseat to the nonstop action, the empowering element of a teen-led rebellion
creates its own energy and sweeps the reader along. --Debbie Carton
Frostblood. By Elly Blake. Jan. 2017.384p. Little, Brown, 517.99 (9780316273251); e-book, 59.99 (9780316273268). Gr. 9-12.
Seventeen-year-old Ruby Ottera is orphaned after watching her mother be murdered by the people she had been protecting Ruby from all along,
called frostbloods. Ruby is thereby thrust into a life where friend and foe want to use her fire-wielding powers as a weapon--a fireblood in a
kingdom ruled by frost. Driven by a prophecy, rebel frostbloods save Ruby from certain death, hoping that she will help them break the curse on
their kingdom. Ruby is continuously torn between red-hot anger and a spark of fondness for her instructor, Arcus, a frostblood with a tragic past,
as he trains her to fight for her life and his kingdom. Ruby's thirst for revenge is seemingly thwarted when she's captured again and forced to fight
in an arena where a fireblood has never triumphed, while becoming an object of fascination for the king. This enchanting and fast-paced debut
lights up the page with magic, romance, and action, all of which is expertly interwoven throughout the text. Readers will be eagerly anticipating
the next book in the series. --Meghan Oppelt
Girls in the Moon. By Janet McNally. Nov. 2016.352p. HarperTeen, 517.99 (9780062436245). Gr. 9-12.
Meg and Kieran Ferris were young and famous in the heady music scene of the 1990s. But after an "accident" produced their daughter Luna, and
a "mistake" brought a second daughter, Phoebe, Meg abandoned her music career. Luna and Phoebe grew up far away from the limelight, fiercely
protected by their mother. Now 19 years old, Luna has moved to New York City and started a band. Phoebe decides to visit her sister during the
last bit of summer before senior year. She is curious about the untold story of her parents' fame, resorting to information gleaned from an old Spin
magazine. As Luna seems destined to follow in her mother's talented footsteps, Phoebe finds a soul mate who shares her love of song lyrics. This
is mostly Phoebe's story, with flashbacks from Meg's reluctant stardom. McNally's first novel shows an appreciation of poetic phrasing, as well as
plenty of musical references. Recommend this introspective novel to readers who enjoy stories about music and musicians.--Diane Colson
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett. By Chelsea Sedoti. Jan. 2017.400p. Sourcebooks/Fire, 517.99 (9781492636083). Gr. 9-12.
When Lizzie Lovett goes missing, Hawthorn becomes obsessed--how could something bad happen to beautiful, popular Lizzie, who always
seemed immune to pain? Hawthorn, who's always coveted Lizzie's seemingly easy existence, goes to desperate, nearly crazy lengths to explain
her disappearance, and in the process of her investigation, she befriends Lizzie's 25-year-old boyfriend, Enzo, who indulges her bizarre quest
(more than he should) and makes Hawthorn feel like less of an outsider. But she becomes so caught up in her search that she finds herself even
more alienated, and when the truth finally comes out, Hawthorn is forced to examine her own choices. Sedoti's debut offers an enlightening look
at the dangers of relying on outward appearances to judge someone's character, and Hawthorn's first-person narrative, filled with obsessive
thoughts and, eventually, meaningful reflection, is a lively, engaging vehicle for the story. A rich cast of secondary characters, including
Hawthorn's family and a caravan of hippies camping in her backyard, adds depth. Fans of character-driven novels will appreciate this.--Sarah
Hunter
Kingdom of Ash and Briars. By Hannah West. 2016.368p. Holiday, $17.95 (97808234365141. Gr. 7-10.
Orphaned and raised as a serving girl, 16-year-old Bristal is stunned to learn that she is one of three elicromancers--immortal, magical beings--in
her kingdom. Bristal is quickly found by the other two elicromancers and trained in their ways. One, Tamarice, is hungry for power and soon
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betrays them all, cursing the royal family and casting the kingdom into darkness. Over the course of the next 16 years, it falls to Bristal to stop
Tamarice's machinations. She uses her shape-shifting skills to secretly raise the cursed youngest princess of the kingdom while helping the hidden
oldest princess attend a ball and discover her heritage. At the same time, she disguises herself as a man to join a group of the king's soldiers and
prepares herself for the coming fight. The inclusion of multiple familiar stories--Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan--gives this plenty of heft,
and the scope of Bristal's adventures, the atmospheric magical elements, and the light touch of romance will enchant fairy-tale fans.--Maggie
Reagan
* Last Seen Leaving. By Caleb Roehrig. Oct. 2016.336p. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 (9781250085634). Gr. 9-12.
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This truly hair-raising, standout mystery thriller from debut author Roehrig will keep readers guessing until the end. When sophomore Flynn
Doherty comes home to find police vehicles parked outside his house, he finds himself facing plenty of questions about his missing girlfriend,
January. The last time Flynn saw January, she was emotional and desperate to be intimate. When Flynn refused, the two parted on unsteady terms
and January all but accused Flynn of being gay, a truth he has been avoiding for years. With the police hesitant to trust Flynn, he takes matters
into his hands and launches his own investigation with January's coworker, friendly and sexy Kaz. More than just fully realized, Roehrig's
characters feel real. And if Flynn's circumstances are a bit sensational, his struggles with identity and relationships certainly aren't. Though this is
not a typical problem novel, Roehrig gives equal deference to the mystery of January's disappearance and Flynn's coming out and subsequent
burgeoning romance with Kaz. Deftly weaving fast-paced mystery with vivid, affecting flashbacks, Roehrig coaxes readers along at just the right
pace and pulls the rug out from under them in the best way possible with a knockout ending.--Caitlin Kling
* A List of Cages. By Robin Roe. Jan. 2017.320p. Hyperion, $17.99 (9781484763803). Gr. 9-12.
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Fourteen-year-old Julian is a damaged boy, taciturn and withdrawn, painfully shy and still bereft from the death of his parents when he was a
child. A poor student with illegible handwriting, he is often the subject of teachers' scorn and classmates' teasing. As a result, he regularly skips
classes to hide in a secret room he has found. His home life is even worse: he is the ward of his uncle by marriage, a cold, distant, dangerous man
who often punishes Julian cruelly, whipping him with a switch and lacerating the skin on his torso. Things begin to gradually change when he
encounters Adam, a teenager who had once been Julian's foster brother before the uncle took custody. Adam, who had ADHD as a child, is still a
restless but exuberant, happy presence, beloved by fellow students and teachers alike. When he unofficially adopts Julian, he brings light into the
boy's hitherto dark existence, though danger still lurks. The two boys tell their respective, affecting stories in first-person voices that perfectly
reflect their characters and rive the story's compelling action. Roe's debut may lack subdety, but it makes up for it with memorable characters and
high drama. A page-turner with a lot of compassion. --Michael Cart
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Of Fire and Stars. By Audrey Coulthurst. Nov. 2016.400p. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, $17.99 (9780062433251). Gr. 8-11.
Princess Dennaleia has always been destined to marry the prince of nearby Mynaria. She knows that it will mean hiding some parts of herself:
Denna has a magical Affinity for fire, and in Mynaria, magic is feared and forbidden. But she doesn't count on being taught to ride the formidable
Mynarian warhorses by Princess Amaranthine (aka Mare), the barbed, very unprincesslike sister of Denna's betrothed. Mare wants nothing to do
with Denna, preferring to train horses instead of princesses, but when a sudden assassination throws the kingdom into chaos and fingers are
pointed at a rebel group of the magically gifted, the two are thrown together as they search for the truth, and their antipathy turns to friendship
and then something more. High-fantasy novels with TGBT love stories at their center are few and far between, and this is done in a lovely
fashion; Mare and Denna's relationship blossoms naturally against a high-stakes backdrop and a fully realized world. A worthy debut that
succeeds as both an adventure and a romance. --Maggie Reagan
Saving Hamlet. By Molly Booth. Nov. 2016.352p. Hyperion, $17.99 (9781484752746). Gr. 8-11.
Sophomore Emma, recently introduced to theater, is excited to learn more as the drama club's assistant stage manager for a production of Hamlet.
Her theater-maven best friend Lulu is gunning for the role of Hamlet--so what if she's a girl?--and Emma has a serious crush on student director
Brandon. But then Emma suddenly finds herself running the whole show, she and Lulu have a massive fight, and Brandon actually starts to seem
like a piece of work. Worse, the show is a disaster: brevity may be the soul of wit, but Brandon's version is five hours long. Then Emma falls
through a trapdoor into seventeenth-century London, behind the scenes of the original Hamlet. As she travels back and forth in time between the
two productions, she learns more than she ever thought possible about theater and being herself. Emma is an easy-to-root-for heroine whose
struggles will resonate with teens, drama geeks or otherwise, and her forays into Shakespeare's London add insight into gender identity in the
theater. A fun, imaginative debut. --Maggie Reagan
Snow Summer. By Kit Peel. Oct. 2016. 200p. Groundwood, $16.95 (9781554983575). Gr. 6-9.
Orphan Wyn currently lives with a kindly pastor and his family in a small English village, but she's acutely aware of not fitting in. Climate change
has created a winter without end, which means that Wyn needs to hide the fact that she is never cold, as well as try to ignore her untested
telekinetic powers and strange memories of things that should be impossible, like flying. When otherworldly creatures appear, sparking Wyn's
hidden memories, she realizes her true identity and her responsibility to end winter and save the world. Peel blends current realities like climate
change with a mystical natural world, in which nature's forces are strong enough to fight human destruction. Readers' initial confusion over the
various magical creatures should settle fairly quickly, while Peel's richly detailed descriptions of the landscapes and the creatures that rise from
them create a magic of their own. Though clearly British in origin, the concerns are global. It may not be subtle, but Peel's debut has the
satisfyingly predictable appeal of a fairy tale. --Debbie Carton
Timekeeper. By Tara Sim. Nov. 2016. 368p. Skyhorse/Sky Pony, $17.99 (9781510706187). Gr. 9-12.
Danny, a 17-year-old clock mechanic living in an alternate 1875 London, narrowly escapes death when a clock tower in which he's working is
bombed. It takes some time to regain his nerve, and he is distracted by an impossible romance, his mechanic father's entrapment behind an
impenetrable time-wall, and ongoing attacks on clock towers all over the English countryside. First-time author Sim has constructed a mild
combination mystery, LGBTQ romance, and supernatural tale of clock spirits and sabotage that explores how far people might go for those they
love. Its strongest elements are the time-related mythology and the supernatural gay romance; the mystery is inconsistently developed, and its
resolution seems rushed. There is a hint-dropped and quickly gone--that this is the first of more books to do with young Danny and his friends.
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An author's note indicates changes to real historical London of 1875 and addresses technology and inventions, the role of women, and
homosexuality. Try this with A. J. Hartley's Steeplejack (2016) for the unusual occupation angle.--Cindy Welch
Under Rose-Tainted Skies. By Louise Gornall. Jan. 2017.336p. Clarion, $17.99 (9780544736511). Gr. 8-11.
Imagine this: your groceries have been delivered to your home, because you don't go shopping. Inconveniently, they have been left just outside
against the house, where they sit in the sun. If you are Norah, this is a catastrophe, since venturing out of the house alone is terrifying. Luckily,
however, she gets unexpected help from Luke, the new guy next door. Normally, she wouldn't be welcoming, but Luke is interesting. When her
mother ends up in the hospital, leaving her temporarily in charge of battling her demons on her own, Norah and Luke, who has his own issues,
take realistic baby steps toward each other. Debut author Gornall, who based Norah's illness on her own experiences, allows readers open access
to Norah's tormented mind. Describing anxiety, Norah observes, "It's the brassy bitch at school that I don't like, but being her BFF makes me
popular. ... I don't know how to be safe without it." Pair this with John Corey Whaley's Highly Illogical Behavior (2016) for a complementary
story about a teen boy experiencing agoraphobia.--Diane Colson
Middle Readers
The Crystal Ribbon. By Celeste Lim. Jan. 2017. 352p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9780545767033): e-book, $ 17.99 (9780545767057). Gr. 4-7.
Eleven-year-old Li Jing adores her baba, but she doesn't understand why he sacrifices precious crops to the Great Golden Huli Jing, the village's
tutelary fox spirit, or why he doesn't prevent her from being sold to the Guo family as a tongyang xi (nursemaid-wife) for their three-year-old son.
Although Jing attempts to be a dutiful daughter-in-law, the Guos and their bratty daughters treat her as a servant. One evening, a spider jing asks
for help rescuing her egg sac from Jing's sister-in-law's bedroom. As a token of gratitude, the spider weaves a crystal-like ribbon that can be
burned as a call for help. And Jing desperately needs help after the Guos sell her to a chinglou, or courtesan house. Jing is a compassionate
character who shows spirit in resisting unjust treatment. As often happens with child narrators, she seems a bit too articulate for her age. This
minor criticism aside, this is a delightful debut featuring lovely prose and a refreshingly unique setting of China during the Song dynasty.--
Michelle Young
The Friendship Experiment. By Erin Teagan. Nov. 2016. 256p. HMH, $16.99 (9780544636224). Gr. 4-7.
Ever since Maddie's scientist grandfather died, she's been carrying on his traditional approach to problem-solving: there's a standard operating
procedure (SOP) for everything. Maddie writes down her step-by-step solutions in her trusty science notebook, and they're for everything from
"How to Survive a Needle" (she and her sister, Brooke, have a hereditary blood disease that requires plenty of trips to the doctor) to "How to Be
Friendly" (Maddie's best friend switched schools, leaving Maddie alone at lunch). But these days, the SOPs aren't doing their job. Brooke isn't
taking their illness seriously, and Maddie doesn't know how to convince her. Then there's Riley, the new science-obsessed girl who just moved to
town and is trying to be Maddie's friend--if only she weren't so annoying. Practical Maddie has a lot to learn about other people, and her journey
will be an eye-opening one for many. Science-minded readers will cheer to meet their match in Maddie as she conquers her demons and learns
what exactly it means to have--and be--a friend.--Maggie Reagan
* The Infinity Year of Avalon James. By Dana Middleton. Oct. 2016. 224p. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99 (9781250085696). Gr. 4-6.
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Now that they're 10 years old, hot-tempered Avalon and even-keeled Atticus believe that, as longtime best friends entering their "Infinity Year,"
each will be granted a special power for a time. Avalon, whose father was incarcerated last year, is hoping for a skill that will help her deal with
Elena, a dagger-tongued bully at school. Fifth grade doesn't start well, but for every negative (enduring a messy, upsetting Halloween prank),
there's a positive (earning a place at the regional spelling bee), and Avalon can always count on Atticus, who helps maintain a delicate emotional
balance. When she inadvertently hurts him and he withdraws, though, Avalon feels wretched and knows that she can't count on magic to put
things right. Revealing her negative traits as well as more admirable qualities, Avalon's first-person narrative is forthright and engaging. Easy for
readers to forget but always a background factor, her thoughts about her father and their relationship resurface to the fore from time to time. This
offers a number of realistically drawn characters, both kids and adults, portrayed as complex people who interact and cope with their troubles in
individual ways. A well-knit first novel with an involving, affecting story.--Carolyn Phelan
Kyle Finds Her Way. By Susie Salem. Oct. 2016. 256p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $16.99 (9780545852661); e-book, $16.99
(9780545852685). Gr. 5-8.
Navigating middle school on day one is daunting for any incoming sixth-grader, but Kyle Constantini is off to a particularly terrible start. She is
in a different section than her two best friends; gets lost and is almost late for her first class; punches a class bully for nearly stepping on her new
friend Marcy's hearing aids; is assigned by the principal to participate in the school's NAVS (Negotiating Actions and Values for Solutions) team;
and rides Marcy's bus rather than her own. Of course, she gets in trouble with her parents for these faux pas, and as new dilemmas crop up, she
can't seem to explain her way out of them--no matter how honorable or naive her intentions have been. Resolutions are reached, and with each,
Kyle matures. Sixth-grade female angst rings true in this debut novel. Salom has Kyle tell the story and uses fantastic dialogue to let this comingof-age
tale shine. Middle-grade readers will relate to Kyle's missteps and the frequently overwhelming environment of middle school.--J. B. Petty
Like Magic. By Elaine Vickers. Oct. 2016. 272p. Harper, $16.99 (9780062414311). Gr. 3-5.
Right from the start of this endearing debut, readers will feel the heartache and the exhilaration of what it means to be 10. Shy poet Grace is
dreading starting fifth grade without her best friend. Outspoken painter Jada, meanwhile, uprooted from New York City, is trying her best to make
a new home in Utah with her dad, while secretly searching for the mother who abandoned her. And sensitive musician Malia anxiously awaits the
arrival of her new sister, worried that the baby will take her place in her mother's heart. When the girls discover a treasure box at the local library
and anonymously begin to share treasures of their own, they also begin to find comfort and friendship. Told in alternating chapters, Vickers gives
each girl a unique and engaging voice, allowing each character's artistic passions to play a key role in overcoming her personal struggles. The Salt
Lake City setting and gracefully embedded ethnic differences add freshness to a story with a message that will stand the test of time: friendship is
like magic. --Rebecca Kuss
Midnight without a Moon. By Linda Williams Jackson. Jan. 2017.320p. HMH, $16.99 (9780544785106). Gr. 5-8.
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It's 1955 in Mississippi, and 13-year-old Rose has a dream: to leave the cotton fields, follow her mama to Chicago, go to an integrated school, and
then head to college to become a teacher or doctor--thereby having the means to take care of her family. But then her harridan of a grandmother
decrees that Rose won't be going back to school, even though she's only finished seventh grade. So much, it would seem, for her dream.
Meanwhile, the larger world intrudes when a young neighbor is murdered for registering to vote and then a 14-year-old boy visiting from
Chicago, named Emmett Till, is also murdered. Will the deaths be meaningless or will they presage change, both for Mississippi and for Rose?
Jackson's debut does an excellent job dramatizing the injustice that was epidemic in the pre-civil rights South and capturing the sounds and
sensibilities of that time and place. Her sympathetic characters and their stories will make this thoughtful book especially good for classroom use.
--Michael Cart
Rebel Genius. By Michael Dante DiMartino. Oct. 2016.384p. illus. Roaring Brook, $16.99 (9781626723368). Gr. 5-8.
Giacomo is a 12-year-old orphan who lives in the sewers of Renaissance-inspired Virenzia. His prized possession is a sketchbook, though
drawing is risky as the Supreme Creator, or dictator, has outlawed art. When his personal Genius--a birdlike creature that enhances artistic
abilities--finds him, he is dangerously marked as an artist. Shortly thereafter, a trio of other artistic children find him and take him to a safe house
where they are allowed to flourish. There they are taught sacred geometry and how to use their creative energies as weapons. When an evil artist
begins hunting for the three Sacred Tools of the Creator, with the intent of destroying the empire, Giacomo is called upon to lead his new
compatriots on a quest to stop him. This debut novel, by the cocreator of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, is the first in a planned
fantasy series. While some of the combined magic and geometry falls flat, there is action and adventure galore, including narrow escapes,
surprising twists, and stunning turns.--Jeanne Fredriksen
Ryan Quinn and the Rebel's Escape. By Ron McGee. Oct. 2016.368p. Harper, $16.99 (9780062421647). Gr. 5-8.
Ryan Quinn's life in New York is interrupted when his father is reported missing and his mother is kidnapped. Left with one message--his father
must deliver Myat Kaw or else his mother dies--Ryan is left to trust Tasha, an associate of his parents, and his friends Danny and Kasey to rescue
them. Turns out Ryan's parents have been working for an emergency rescue organization, and they have secretly been training Ryan his whole
life. McGee s debut has many hallmarks of the middle-grade espionage thriller genre--a fake international location, a young boy who suddenly
can do extraordinary things, the friend who can hack into anything, and so on--and it is a solid volume for readers looking for a fast-paced,
nonstop adventure of derring-do. Ryan is a likable character, Danny is hilarious, Kasey is more than the dumb blonde everyone assumes she is,
and his bully turns out to be a pretty decent guy with a soft spot. While many loose ends are neatly tied up, this bound-to-be-popular volume
leaves plenty of room for a sequel.--Lindsey Tomsu
The Secrets of Hexbridge Castle. By Gabrielle Kent. Oct. 2016.336p. Scholastic, $16.99 (9780545869294); e-book, $16.99 (9780545881807).
Gr. 4-7.
Alfie Bloom is more than a little puzzled to learn that he's inherited a castle. For one thing, he's never heard of Orin Hopcraft, the druid who left
him Hexbridge Casde. The biggest surprise, however, is the castle itself, full of hidden rooms and other wondrous magic. Alfie and his twin
cousins have great fun exploring, but danger comes with a two-headed dragon terrorizing the village and a pair of horrendous headmistresses at
Alfie's new school. Kent's debut has undeniable shades of that other magical boy who finds himself unexpectedly in a magical castle--Alfie
receives letters by raven, he's helped by an enigmatic man in a high tower, he's the sole bearer of powerful magic, and so on--but Kent carries it
off well, neatly interweaving backstory, hints about Hopcraft's tasks for Alfie, comical interludes, and plot threads about friendship and family
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that help keep the narrative firmly grounded in reality. This well-paced, engaging fantasy is tailor-made for Harry Potter fans, who will be pleased
to learn there are more adventures in the works for Alfie. --Sarah Hunter
Snakes and Stones. By Lisa Fowler. Nov. 2016. 240p. Skyhorse/Sky Pony, $15.99 (9781510710313). Gr. 3-6.
It's 1921, and Chestnut Hill has been traveling with her father and her younger triplet siblings--Hazel, Mac, and Filbert--since the day he took
them away from their mother. Together, the siblings help sell their father's snake oil elixir, but Chestnut is tired of having to lie to people every
day about its powers. While traveling, Chestnut leaves handmade signs behind showing their next destination, in the hope that her mother will
track them down. When she finally can't take it anymore, Chestnut steals money to buy a ticket home, which leads to a series of troubles that
result in a reunion with her mother. But when she witnesses an argument between her parents, she learns a heartbreaking truth about them. Fowler
includes some period-appropriate instances of racism, including some targeting the Hills' friend, Abraham, although the Hills are not depicted as
racist themselves. Chestnut's first-person narrative, in an old-fashioned, rural dialect, might be a struggle for some, but the fast pace and intriguing
secrets in this debut will keep the pages turning. --Selenia Paz
A Tail of Camelot. By Julie Leung. Illus. by Lindsey Carr. Oct. 2016.304p. Harper, $16.99 (9780062403995). Gr. 3-6.
Like most mice in Camelot, young Calib Christopher dreams of becoming a knight, but when his name is mysteriously entered into the annual
Harvest Tournament (to determine his eligibility), his nerves threaten to get the best of him. Shortly afterward, an assassination interrupts the
competition, and the creatures grow convinced that the forest-dwelling Darklings are to blame. Calib is sure they are wrong and taps into
unknown stores of courage to unite the animals and face the true, and much more dangerous, enemy. Leungs debut is a charming blend of
Arthurian legend and Brian Jacques' Redwall series. A subplot involving Galahad's arrival as a boy in Camelot parallels Calib's struggles--and
eventual heroics--while integrating key characters from the legend. Exciting battles join suspenseful animal alliances, such as Calib's diplomatic
excursion to the owls, all while Calib tests the limits of his bravery and learns what being a knight truly entails. With likable characters and a
classic spirit of adventure, this is a satisfying story of small heroes accomplishing great things.--Julia Smith
YA RECOMMENDATIONS
* Young adult recommendations for adult, audio, and reference titles reviewed in this issue have been contributed by the Booklist staff and by
reviewers Poornima Apte, Michael Cart, Laura Chanoux, Joan Curbow, Kristine Huntley, Eloise Kinney, and Mary Ellen Quinn.
* Adult titles recommended for teens are marked with the following symbols: YA, for books of general YA interest; YA/C, for books with
particular curriculum value; YA/S, for books that will appeal most to teens with a special interest in a specific subject; and YA/M, for books best
suited to mature teens.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Spotlight on first novels." Booklist, 15 Oct. 2016, p. 54+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468771357&it=r&asid=6d1a49cf438d2ee50bf7813d173d386c. Accessed 9 July
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468771357
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The Hundreds Lies of Lizzie Lovett. By: Thaler-Sroussi, Eva, School Library Journal, 03628930, Nov2016, Vol. 62, Issue 11
Lonely misfit high school senior Hawthorn Creely finds respite from pressure at school and at home by searching for a missing student: popular Lizzie Lovett. There are no clues, burning secrets, or great reveals surrounding Lizzie’s disappearance. Instead, Hawthorn’s wildly creative imagination and humor drive this mystery’s plot forward. In a somewhat disturbing turn of events, she steps into Lizzie’s life, taking the missing girl’s old job and becoming involved with her boyfriend, Enzo. Hawthorn’s insecurities and eventual self-discovery comprise the central themes of the novel as she navigates dates, dances, mean girls, and social isolation. Ultimately, Sundog, a visiting hippie, gives Hawthorn sensible spiritual guidance: “Some people are born knowing their paths from the start. The rest of us take a while to get there.” Sage advice indeed. Some readers may be put off by the lack of a traditional whodunit story line as well as by Hawthorn’s sometimes odd responses to situations, while other readers may find her eccentricities refreshingly honest and recognize an authentic teen voice. Some mature situations, including sex and drinking, are woven throughout. VERDICT Recommended for teens who appreciate a protagonist with a lively imagination and an acerbic tongue.
January 2017
THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT
Piecing together a friend's disappearance
BookPage review by Kimberly Giarratano
Despite the title, this engaging mystery from debut author Chelsea Sedoti isn’t about the popular, enviable Lizzie, but about 17-year-old Hawthorn Creely, the lonely outcast who becomes obsessed with Lizzie’s disappearance. Hawthorn has always been a loner. Her sarcasm, dry wit and occasional rudeness have left her with only one friend, and even that relationship hangs by a thread. So when Lizzie is reported missing, Hawthorn inserts herself into Lizzie’s old life by taking over Lizzie’s former job and hanging out with Enzo, Lizzie’s sulky artist boyfriend. As Hawthorn and Enzo connect over Lizzie, Hawthorn is enlivened by her new adventures, but they come at the expense of a tragedy.
Hawthorn is one of the most relatable characters in recent young adult literature. Her unhappiness stems from her inability to connect to people her own age and her subsequent boredom. She lives mostly in her own head, choosing to find magic in movies, books and her imagination rather than the world around her.
This mystery is less about finding a missing girl as it is about finding happiness and purpose in a complex, often contradictory world.
Home / Blog / BOOK REVIEW: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
BOOK REVIEW: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
Kristin Downer December 22, 2016 Blog, Book Reviews, Books Leave a comment
Title: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
Author: Chelsea Sedoti
Publication: January 3, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 400
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn’t mean to interfere, but she has a pretty crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it, she decides to immerse herself in Lizzie’s life. That includes taking her job… and her boyfriend. It’s a huge risk — but it’s just what Hawthorn needs to find her own place in the world.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Chelsea Sedoti has taken a subject that is hard for some to read and turned it into an intriquing, nerve-wracking, story intertwined with lessons on love, growing up, and over imagination. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett follows the story of Hawthorn Creely as she finds herself, and by find I mean inserts herself, into a missing persons investigation for a girl she has loathed since freshman year. While she ends up being involves in multiple aspects of the missing persons life, Hawthorn begins to learn some valuable life lessons. High school friends are not necessarily forever. Friendships change. Romantic feelings can change quickly. People are not always who we think they are. And most importantly, no matter how hard you try to delay it you will always grow up.
Sedoti wrote some compelling characters who are all multiple layers of messed up for different reasons. While I found her main character, Hawthorn, a tad bit annoying and obsessive at times I was always hoping she would get it together in the end. Without giving too much away I can say there were aspects of the characters I could have dealt with less of and sometimes it felt forced or as if the author was filling space. There were also instances where I was really into a scene and then it was over and I wanted more. Not necessarily a bad thing. While there were little things that irked me throughout the book Sedoti did the one thing that authors should do. She got me wanting to know more and made me feel emotions for different parts of the book. There were times I was incredibly uncomfortable because of whatever given situation Hawthorn had gotten herself in. I was stressed at times. I found myself sighing and smacking my forehead when she made uneducated decisions that were obviously going to go badly and feeling the butterflies she felt when she was excited. It’s not easy to bring out strong emotions in readers so I give Sedoti major props for drawing such reactions from me.
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett is for anyone who wants a book that will draw you in and keep you from the beginning. Chelsea Sedoti is sure to drag an emotion out of you, even if you ended up disliking the main character most of the way through like I did. Her writing style is smooth and transitions well from one point to the next without any huge gaps or lost details. Due to my qualms with some of the “filler feeling” moments I cannot give this book a five stars, but it has a very strong four stars out of five. I’ll be checking out Sedoti’s next book to see what crazy characters and story lines she can throw at us next.
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett is available January 3rd. Pick up your copy from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. It will also be available in a bookstore near you. We highly encourage you to add the book to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave your feedback for the author when you finished reading. Make sure to stay on the lookout for more books from Chelsea Sedoti in the future.
REVIEW: THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT BY CHELSEA SEDOTI
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Summary
A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn’t mean to interfere, but she has a pretty crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it, she decides to immerse herself in Lizzie’s life. That includes taking her job… and her boyfriend. It’s a huge risk — but it’s just what Hawthorn needs to find her own place in the world.
Review ★★★★
This book destroyed me emotionally. It’s so beautifully written and it will just drag you in the book, you actually feel like being a part of the story. It’s an emotional roller coaster, you’ll want to cry, scream, throw the book towards the other side of the room but most of all you’ll want to laugh. This is Chelsea Sedoti first book and I can not wait for her next book, she is definitely one of my favorite authors. In all honesty, when this book gets published I will get myself the physical book, for sure.
More information
Pages: 300
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Publication date: January 3rd 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks
review copy provided by NetGalley & Sourcebooks in exchange for a honest review
For more reviews, book news and book related posts go to: booksoverhumans
Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
By Kasey Giard | January 11, 2017 | Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen Fiction
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
Chelsea Sedoti
Sourcebooks
Available January 3, 2017
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Hawthorn didn’t even like Lizzie Lovett, but when the girl disappears and the whole town turns upside down over it, she can’t resist getting involved. At first it’s just a pastime. But as Hawthorn’s unorthodox theory takes shape, she finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into Lizzie’s life. She gets hired at Lizzie’s old job makes friends with her understandably wrecked boyfriend, the guy half the town thinks might have killed Lizzie. As she delves deeper into the girl she never knew, Hawthorn learns how little she understands herself and her own place in the world, and understanding what happened to Lizzie becomes her own transforming journey.
Hawthorn’s voice has to be the strongest part of this story. I wasn’t immediately crazy about the voice, but the style and its consistency definitely drew me in. This is one of those stories with deeply flawed characters, and my disappointment with those that didn’t rise from the ashes of their mistakes (sorry, no spoilers) made me stop reading for a few moments to grieve. Sometimes you just want better for people—even imaginary ones!
I often struggle reading stories about really unconventional families (probably odd, since I think my family would probably fit that description to those looking in from the outside) and Hawthorn’s family was definitely a struggle. I loved her brother and his best friend.
Fans of Cori McCarthy’s You Were Here should check out The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett. The emotional depth and surprising journey of grief reminded me a lot of You Were Here as did the quirkiness of the main character—though Lizzie Lovett is told only in Hawthorn’s point-of-view as opposed to the multiple perspectives in McCarthy’s novel.
Recommended for Ages 17 up.
Cultural Elements
Pretty generic small-town America.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used with moderate frequency.
Romance/Sexual Content
Hawthorn reveals the source of her name—her parents conceived her under a hawthorn tree. Later she kisses and has sex with her boyfriend—an experience which leaves her with mixed feelings. She didn’t expect the awkwardness. She wonders about Lizzie’s experience with sex and asks some general questions of Lizzie’s boyfriend. He tells Hawthorn that Lizzie liked sex a lot.
Spiritual Content
Hawthorn explores some unconventional ideas about Lizzie’s disappearance. For instance, could she have transformed into another creature? A group of hippies begins camping in Hawthorn’s backyard, and their leader gives Hawthorn some advice about finding her true name and ways to view life according to his ways.
Hawthorn’s mother told her to be careful what she wished for, especially in terms of wishing ill on others. So when Hawthorn wishes ill on someone, she wishes things that are more often comical or inconvenient, such as wishing that whenever a rival microwaved a frozen burrito, the center would stay cold.
Violent Content
A girl at school makes Hawthorn miserable. She never physically bullies her, but her behavior is emotionally bullying and mean. See spoiler alert below for additional violent content.
Drug Content
Hawthorn goes to a party where teens are drinking. She also gets drunk and sick. At one point her brother comes home drunk and sick. The hippies (and Hawthorn’s mother) smoke pot in the backyard. Lizzie comments that if her mom is smoking pot, she can’t very well condemn her underage drinking.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Additional violent content – SPOILER WARNING
Searchers find Lizzie’s body eventually. She committed suicide by hanging herself.
At 17, Hawthorn Creely is only four years younger than Lizzie Lovett, a local woman who has gone missing from a nearby campsite. Hawthorn, still holding a grudge after being dismissed by Lizzie years earlier, becomes fixated on the older girl’s life since high school. Under the guise of investigating her paranormal theory behind Lizzie’s disappearance, Hawthorn befriends Lizzie’s boyfriend, begins waitressing at the diner where she worked, and visits places Lizzie frequented. But Hawthorn’s true motivation often seems to meander from the missing woman: “Maybe, if I showed the world that werewolves existed, people would stop asking me about my plans for the future. No one would care about the future, because I would have already proven myself, accomplished something great.” Hawthorn is self-involved, shortsighted, and often selfish, but Sedoti deftly pulls readers into her head where her yearning for excitement, angst about the future, and insecurity bring further depth to her character. Hawthorn and Lizzie both emerge as surprising, intricate characters whose stories are resonant and memorable. Ages 14–up. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary & Media. (Jan.)