I’ve wanted to read this, for a while years after all the hype. (I’m not one of those mid-hype readers.)

Finally I got my motivation, since the author is coming to speak at the NESCBWI conference this April. I’ve already read her historical fiction novel “Fever: 1793” about the yellow fever in Philadelphia – wicked good read.

But I wasn’t too excited about a contemporary high school story. Another girl on the outside, feeling left out etc. etc. etc. But that’s about all I knew about it, and man, was I intrigued as the story unfolded.

This one has it all – it’s an “issue” book, but totally character-driven,  and what characters indeed! Multi-dimensional and very realistic.

Makes me glad I didn’t grow up in Syracuse …