"If He Had Been With Me" by Laura Nowlin

💬:   Autumn and Finn were best friends. For the longest time, they had been inseparable. Everything they did, they did together. Their relationship seemed like it would never break. Until it did. They grew up and apart for seemingly no reason at all. But that's just one of the harsh truths of life, right?

At the start of their freshman year, nobody remembers, or can tell, that the two of them had been good friends. Autumn has a boyfriend and a close group of unique friends. And Finn is that boy. The one that has people around him constantly. The one that lots of people want to be friends with. Naturally, all of Autumn's friends strongly dislike him because of this popularity and because of the people he chooses to hang out with. Despite their differences in friend groups, Autumn can't help but feel the growing and nauseating feelings of regret over their lost friendship. Why did they have to stop being friends?

As time passes, Autumn realizes that she must restore her friendship with Finny before it's too late. Because, after all, fate doesn't wait or anyone. 

A beautifully written coming-of-age/ love story,  If He Had Been with Me is a story that will stick with you for awhile. 

❤: Where do I even start about how much I loved this book? The harsh portrayal of growing up in this novel is fantastic. I usually look for relatable and realistic characters in the books I read and this one has so many. None of these characters are perfect, which makes them 100% more enjoyable. They each make tragic decisions, as do most teenagers do in their high school years. This is a heartbreaking tale of young love that I think all young adults should read. It teaches valuable lessons about time, love, friendships, and the miserable feelings that all teenagers feel while going through high school.  I will warn all who reads this book: make sure you don't read this in public because you will most likely cry. 

💘: My favorite character by far is Finny, who doesn't let his popularity change his kind heart or his caring nature. He is kind and respectful to everyone, especially Autumn. He is the ideal best friend- someone who is there when you need them the most (even if you haven't spoken in a long time). 

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emich

Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Mental Health Issues

💬: Anxiety. Depression. Medication. Self-doubt. Low confidence. Broken arm. Sweaty palms. All of these things are daily problems for high school senior Evan Hansen. After writing a letter as a form of therapy, Evan suddenly finds himself in the principal's office sitting across from the Murphy's. After losing their troubled son Connor, the Murphy's are struggling to piece together the details of Connor's life outside of home. And when the Murphy's see Connor's name written in big letters across Evan's cast, they assume that Connor and Evan were friends. 

But this isn't the case. 

Evan and Connor weren't friends at all. In fact, they didn't even like each other and got into an altercation the day Connor died. Connor had signed Evan's cast without asking, mainly out of spite. Evan tries to explain this, but can't seem to say no to the grieving parents. Evan sends himself into a serious game of pretend when he tells Connor's parents that he was Connor's best friend. After word gets out about this, people start looking at him in the hallways. And suddenly, Evan doesn't feel so invisible anymore. Everyone takes notice of him- even Zoe, the girl he likes. He spreads awareness of Connor's death around school and with the help of a few others, he manages to get the message all over the internet. Thankful, the Murphy's invite Evan to their house multiple times a week just to hear him talk about their son. As Evan spends more and more time with them, he starts to realize all the anger, regret, and confusion they are feeling. He knows what he's doing is wrong, but he's helping them. Isn't he? 

As the lies keep growing and growing, Evan finds his secret to be untamable. And as people start to question his credibility, Evan comes face-to-face with his biggest obstacle of all: himself. 

❤: Not many books get me to cry. But this one did. To me, this story is a unique exploration of grief and sadness. Not just for the Murphy family, but for everyone in the story. The best part of this book, in my opinion, was its characters. My favorite character by far, Zoe, has so much depth and character development. Her story is so devastating and heart wrenching, but she is still a kind person. Her reaction to grief was so real, that it made me tear up a lot of times. Also, though I don't agree with anything he did in the book, Evan's character is so unique and sad that I couldn't help but feel sorry for him as more and more of his past was revealed. Evan's mom, Heidi, was another realistic character. She was just a mother who wanted the best for her kid AND for herself. And though Evan didn't always see it, she was doing her best for him. 

I recommend this book for teens who would like to educate themselves a little more on mental health issues. But I also recommend this book for people who need a reminder that they do belong and that someone will always be there to lift them up. 

"A Danger to Herself and Others" by Alyssa Sheinmel

Trigger Warning: Mental Health Issues, Eating Disorders, Mentions of Suicide

💬: To Hannah, the decision to have her institutionalized was wrong. What happened to her best friend Agnes was an accident. Nobody was meant to get hurt. And as soon as the doctors realize that she isn't a danger to herself and others, she'll go home to start her senior year of high school. Those college essays aren't going to write themselves, after all! Until then, she plans to get on the good side of Dr. Lightfoot, her personal psychiatrist, and to get out of her dull, boring room as much as possible. As time goes on, Hannah notices new things about the institution. Girls with eating disorders eat at a special table in the cafe (if you're allowed to go there). Somebody always supervises the showers (if you're allowed to take one). Talking circles are with people who go through the same experiences as you (if you're allowed to be there). Going outside is allowed (if you have permission, of course). The more time she spends at the institution, Hannah wonders what she has to do to get those privileges and spend time with some of the girls there. Seriously. This whole "alone" thing is getting real old. 

Just as the isolation becomes unbearable, Hannah meets Lucy. 

Lucy becomes Hannah's new roommate and a replacement of her former best friend. Though Lucy seems just as troubled as Hannah, she helps Hannah confront the harsh truths that wait for her outside the doors of her small room in the institution. 

❤: What I loved most about this book was the author's ability to make you feel a wide range of emotions toward a single character, specifically Hannah. Hannah has a drastic change throughout the novel, going from a narcissistic, egotistical and privileged girl (this is honestly one of the biggest examples of an unreliable narrator I've ever seen) to someone you could sympathize with and possibly relate to. Hannah's change throughout the novel is so genuine that it's impossible to not love her by the end of the story. At first, she narrates her story as if she lives a perfect life and is proud of all the terrible things she has done. By the end, she knows that her life isn't as perfect as she thought and that she was going to have to work to make herself a better person. And I LOVE when characters go through major changes like that. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story of transformation, someone who can handle dark elements (as listed above) and someone who enjoys a whole bunch of twists in their stories. 

"Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

 

💬: The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant get on a plane thinking that this trip was going to be one of the best of their lives. This beach trip would be perfect. They could tan, swim, party, and get all dolled up for the pageant. For most of the girls, this is the dream. Unfortunately, the plane they were on had a different plan in mind. Instead of landing on a beautiful beach getaway, they would crash onto a deserted island filled with monstrous animals and few necessities- not even lipstick! So what's a beauty queen to do? Should they listen to Taylor, Miss Texas, and practice for the big show she swears they're going to have? Or should they listen to Adina, Miss New Hampshire, and learn how to survive in this 'totally bogus' wilderness? Decisions, decisions. 

And hey! What's up with these sexy pirates? 

❤: What I loved most about this book was definitely the characters. Each character, though similar in their need to get off the island, is thoroughly unique and beautifully hilarious. They are incredibly diverse and not one girl is similar to another. Though you make think these characters are entirely fantastical, you might find yourself relating to them. I specifically relate to Petra, Jennifer, and Adina who are all on a journey of self-discovery. All of the girls have their own stories and Bray specifically tells the reader who each chapter is about (it changes almost every chapter). The comedy in this book is unlike any other book I've ever read. The jokes are thought out and intellectual, while also being offbeat and (sometimes) dark. Overall, I highly recommend this book to teens who want a hilarious read while also getting an emotional adventure.  

"The Shining" by Stephen King

 

💫New Teen Influencer Post💫

Happy Spooky Season! Today we feature Stephen King's The Shining as a spooky book to celebrate Halloween! 👻

💬: Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel gives him and his family the perfect chance for a new start. The cold and bitter winters at the Overlook give Jack the perfect opportunity to connect with his wife Wendy and his five- year- old son Danny. It also gives him the chance to start his new book. But as winter draws nearer and the snow makes it impossible to leave, strange things start to occur. And the only one who seems to see them is Danny, who's gifted mind seems to attract the terrifying forces wandering around the hotel. As time goes on, the appeal of the Overlook Hotel fades into something much more dark... and sinister. 

👍: What I liked most about this book, without giving too much away, is the hotel's gradual change from the idyllic vacation spot to a sinister palace of lost history. King's writing makes you dread the Overlook even though you aren't there. When reading this book, you get a mixture of the Overlook's history as well as the Torrance family history. And I thought it was incredibly interesting to see how it all ties in together as one horrific tale about a grand hotel and its groundskeeper. 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

At the start of the next world war, a plane of young schoolboys crashes on an uncharted island. Stranded, the boys find themselves without adult supervision and no rules to follow. At first, the boys rejoice over their newfound freedoms. They realize that they're far away from everyone and everything. And that means they can do anything they want. Anything. But when the order that they had collapses and they start hearing strange noises at night, some of the boys start to realize that the dream of having an island all to themselves has turned into a nightmare. 

What I liked most about this book was how close it strayed to reality. The decisions that each character made throughout the book were incredibly realistic and true to their character (as well as their age). I also enjoyed the thrill of not knowing what was next or if the boys would ever be rescued. If you choose to read this book, it will have your heart and mind racing. The whole time that you're reading, you'll be asking yourself: "What would I do?"

-Bri, Teen Influencer

"The Outsiders" by S.E Hinton

 Life as a Greaser in the 1960s isn't always easy. But fourteen year old Ponyboy Curtis thinks he's got life all figured out. He knows who he can trust: his brothers, Darry, and Sodapop, as well as his friends Johnny, Dallas and Two-Bit. He also knows that he can't trust the Socs, their rival gang. The Socs love beating up on Greasers like him and his friends. But one night when someone takes things way too far with the Socs, Ponyboy is forced to leave the world he knows so well and face the unknown. "The Outsiders" is a heroic coming-of-age story about true friendship. Children and adults will have this novel of friendship and belonging stuck on their mind. People of all ages will love the adventures of Ponyboy and his friends. 

-Bri, Teen Influencer

The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

 

 

The Firekeeper's Daughter, written by Angeline Boulley, is a mysterious thriller that follows 18 year old Daunis Fontaine, whose dreams of studying medicine and talented hockey skills makes her a popular member of her community. However, when she witnesses a horrific tragedy, her whole life changes and her future is put on pause. The murder of her best friend allows her to uncover the secret identity of the new hockey star, Jamie, who is also her brother's best friend. With his true identity revealed -- he is an undercover cop -- they team up into a criminal investigation. As they go undercover, she is able to use her background in chemistry to be a vital part of the case. The further they get into this investigation, the more is revealed about her friends and family.

Will she discover the truth about what truly is going on in her town? Will she catch the killer? Daunis will do whatever it takes to protect her home, even if it changes everything she had ever known. The Firekeeper's Daughter will keep you on the edge of your seat as the characters try to solve the case. Angeline Boulley creates an extraordinary atmosphere with an ending plot that no one expected. 

-Amanda, Teen Influencer

Sadie by Courtney Summers

 

Sadie, a thriller novel written by Courtney Summers, follows the story of a missing nineteen-year-old set out to avenge her murdered sister. Told through West McCray's podcast, the man who is told to find her, and Sadie's perspective, we start to learn the unsettling truth of Sadie and her little sister Mattie's pasts. 

Determined to seek revenge and punish her sister's killer, Sadie follows a line of clues and ends up the center of a viral podcast and investigation. Will Sadie find the person who ruined her life? Will West locate Sadie before it's too late? Find out in this thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until you know the truth.

As a teen who has read this book, I really enjoyed reading Sadie's perspective because not only was she a strong female voice with a goal to pursue, but but she showed the struggles that girls face in parts of the US that are farther from achieving gender equality. As a critical consumer, I enjoyed living another point of view that is similar to mine, and different. 

Sadie's journey was far from perfect, and I appreciated that. I respected how the author shed light on many topics that are messy and often avoided because they are too uncomfortable to speak about. Summers worked these topics into the book perfectly, making you struggle to decide between putting the book on pause to act for these social justice conflicts, or keep reading in one sitting.

This book concludes with an ending that may or may not be surprising, but is extremely raw and realistic. Showcased is something that is too common for many girls, boys, and people in this country. 

-Julia, Teen Influencer