Aguirre,
Ann. The Queen of Bright and Shiny
Things. Macmillan(Farrar
Strauss/Feiwel&Friends/First Second/Henry Holt/Roaring Brook/Square Fish) 2015
328p $17.99 ISBN 978-1-250-04750-2 hs Conflict E-BN
Sage is well liked at school. She is
perpetually leaving complimentary post-it notes on the lockers of unsuspecting
students who need a boost, especially those who are being bullied. She moved in
with her aunt three years ago after a family tragedy and remembers what it was
like to not fit in at school. She has
one friend, Ryan, who is her confidant, but even he knows little of her life
prior to her moving in with her aunt. A
new boy in town, Shane, who has a troubling past, becomes friendly with Sage, and
they find they have a lot in common. As
their relationship develops, Sage finds that having a variety of friends is fun
and not scary, even though she is hiding a secret that she feels could turn her
into a pariah. Readers will come to care
for Sage and Shane, and will empathize with the devastating feelings that Sage experiences
when her secret is revealed. The cliques and high-school behavior are all too
believable, as jocks bully the most susceptible students, and kids are
relegated to various cliques: the stoners, brains, jocks, and eco freaks. The novel features well-developed characters,
a tight, believable plot, and just the right hint of secrecy, which is
ultimately shattered in a devastating moment followed by a courageous reaction.
This would be a powerful read for those
who need to know how to react to adversity positively.
Summary: Sage has secrets that no one
at school knows. She navigates her way
through her junior year at school being kind and eco conscious, and finding
first love, all the while fearing that secrets from her past will torpedo her
hopes for the future. Grades 8-12.
School stories-Fiction,
Conflict-Fiction --Lois
McNicol
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