The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
by Lauren James
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: July 3, 2018
The only life that Romy Silvers has ever known is the inside of a massive spaceship tasked with colonizing a new Earth-like planet. Still, when her two astronaut parents are killed, leaving her by herself on the Infinity, she feels utterly alone besides the brief messages from her therapist on Earth as she continues her journey. But that all changes when NASA alerts her that another ship, the Eternity, will be joining the Infinity. When Romy begins to exchange messages with its charismatic captain, J, she thinks nothing could go wrong now that she has this newfound friendship. But as the two of them get closer to meeting, Romy realizes that J’s mission might be one she could never have imagined.
Surprisingly for such a short book, it was amazing. The author included so many cool aspects that you would never expect to see in a sci-fi. For one, the plot was full of constant twists despite the fact that Romy is living alone in a giant spaceship. The author was able to accomplish this through email-like messages as well as notifications from the ship itself. It would be revealing too much to say exactly what was transpiring through the messages, but it would not be an understatement to say they added to the overall eerie feeling of the book. The setting itself also made the whole book feel mysterious as the ship was riddled with strange malfunctions and breakdowns.
The plot also featured heavy reference to a supernatural TV series that Romy really likes called Loch and Ness. When I first began reading this book, I was surprised by the heavy references to this series as the main character often fangirled about it and even wrote fanfiction! I was shocked because I never believed this sort of aspect could be included in a sci-fi book. And not only was it included, but it was an important plot device that was used throughout the book. But this was not the first part of this book that left me shocked.
In terms of characters, Romy was one that I found to be pretty unique in YA. For one, despite the fact that she has lived her entire life in space, she is pretty much like any other teenage girl. She fangirls, she gets lazy, she has homework sent to her, etc. But she also gets anxiety. This was one of the surprise aspects that I mentioned earlier. Who would expect to read about a character that suffers from panic attacks in a sci-fi book? And not only was it written about, but it was written about well. I loved how authentic the author made Romy’s experience feel. And the author didn’t make it feel like a plot device, nor did she use it like a fun little thing to add. The author wrote about Romy’s anxiety as just another part of her life. Readers who relate to her will be very surprised by the author’s honest portrayal as they gain representation in a genre that doesn’t typically deal with issues like this.
The only negative thing that I have to say about this book is that the antagonist seemed too much like a cookie-cutter type of villain. Despite this, he still provided for great plot advancements and twists that readers will never see coming.
I recommend this book for sci-fi lovers looking for a new twist on the genre. James is truly innovative with this book and even readers who don’t typically read sci-fi will enjoy it greatly. This book is great for fans of HONOR AMONG THIEVES or BRIGHTLY BURNING because of the space-ship setting.
I Am Still Alive
by Kate Marshall
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 24, 2018
I AM STILL ALIVE is a masterfully constructed novel following the life of teenage girl Jess after a series of disastrous events started by the murder of her father leave her stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness. Jess must survive in a foreign land with nothing except a few tools and an ever faithful dog at her side. But Jess is also focused on surviving so that she can enact a revenge plot against the murderer of her father. A survival story plus a revenge plot plus a strong female protagonist. What’s not to like?
With her debut novel, author Kate Marshall is sure to have created a thriller novel that sets the tone for the rest of her career. Jess’s rollercoaster ride of trials and errors kept me fascinated throughout the entirety of the book, and oftentimes I became so entranced with the intricately woven story that I would forget it wasn’t real. The emotions Jess goes through are reflected on the reader, leaving me at times breathless, and at other times, heartbroken. I recommend I AM STILL ALIVE to readers teenaged and older, due to graphic content.
Always Forever Maybe
by Anica Mrose Rissi
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE by Amica Mrose Rissi tells the beautiful story of a girl falling in love for the first time... and all that comes with it in this case. What starts out as a storybook romance, a fairytale connection, soon takes a turn. Bee first starts cutting her family from her life, than her best friend, and one by one she becomes more and more alone, even though she seemingly has everything she’s always wanted.
This book shows us how devastating love and physical attraction can truly be, but also how sometimes it takes tragedy to finally see the light. I couldn’t put this book down until it was finished, and I thought it was very well written and truly draws you in.
Notes From My Captivity
by Kathy Parks
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: July 10, 2018
In Kathy Parks’ NOTES FROM MY CAPTIVITY, aspiring journalist Adrienne Cahill embarks on a journey into the Siberian wilderness with her stepfather Dan to search for the Osinovs: a family of Russian hermits Dan has been researching for years. Adrienne and the rest of the world believe Dan has made up this family, and she sets out on the trip with the goal of proving him wrong in an article that will earn her a scholarship to Emory’s journalism program. However, when she finds herself being held hostage in the Osinovs' home, she is forced to give in to Dan’s theories and use her skills as a journalist to find her way home. Adrienne’s voice as a storyteller and reporter was both snarky and sincere, and Parks seamlessly transitioned between suspense and humor throughout the story. The best parts of the novel were the elements of magical realism woven throughout, which heightened my experience of Adrienne’s story and surprisingly beautiful relationship with the Osinovs. Ultimately, this novel is not only about the power our experiences have in shaping our stories, but also our own roles in the way we choose to tell those stories. In short: NOTES FROM MY CAPTIVITY’s unique plot and style make it a worthwhile read.
The Year of Living Awkwardly: Sophomore Year
by Emma Chastain
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: July 10, 2018
THE YEAR OF LIVING AWKWARDLY: SOPHOMORE YEAR by Emma Chastain follows Chloe as she navigates her sophomore year of high school. Over the summer she works as a lifeguard with Grady, an incoming freshman, who she finds to be stupid and silly, not at all boyfriend material even though he has a massive crush on her. But when the school year begins and she’s trying to figure out her place, from theater to friends to boys, she starts to realize her cheating ex, Mac, maybe isn’t what she deserves. Throughout this relatable and hilarious novel, we see the importance of family and acceptance, the value of always sticking by your friends, and many more lessons. I thought this book was well written and a good easy light read. Written from Chloe's perspective, it feels like the reader is right there with her, making it fun!
Invisible Ghosts
by Robyn Schneider
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
INVISIBLE GHOSTS by Robyn Schneider is another cutesy high school romance starring your typical insecure relatable quirky teen and the hot boy who understands her, but this time, with ghosts! Rose spends her school days with girls she doesn't really like and her afternoons watching TV and hanging out with her older brother Logan, who coincidentally, died five years earlier. This has been her life for years, but when her childhood friend (and now a super cute guy) Jamie moves back to town, her world as she knows it changes. As her relationship with Jamie blossoms, she finds that the memory and ghost of Logan is holding her back.
I loved Schneider's first book and have been eagerly awaiting this one. Though some plot points felt a bit rushed or not fully fleshed out, the concept was fresh and the characters felt real and supportable. This was a perfect combination of both cheesy romance and paranormal mystery, both managing to compliment without overshadowing the other. The story was consistent and believable throughout and never felt overdramatic or unrealistic. I would highly recommend this for high school fans of magical realism or those wanting to dip their toes into the paranormal waters.
The only life that Romy Silvers has ever known is the inside of a massive spaceship tasked with colonizing a new Earth-like planet. Still, when her two astronaut parents are killed, leaving her by herself on the Infinity, she feels utterly alone besides the brief messages from her therapist on Earth as she continues her journey. But that all changes when NASA alerts her that another ship, the Eternity, will be joining the Infinity. When Romy begins to exchange messages with its charismatic captain, J, she thinks nothing could go wrong now that she has this newfound friendship. But as the two of them get closer to meeting, Romy realizes that J’s mission might be one she could never have imagined.
