Genre: Realistic Fiction
# of Pages: 449
Iowa Award Winner 2018-19
Emily and Sloane have been best friends ever since Sloane moved to town. They do everything together and Emily feels braver and more adventurous when she’s with Sloane, which is why it’s so hard when Sloane disappears one day. She stops answering her phone and her house suddenly seems abandoned. Meanwhile, Emily’s parents have become suddenly absorbed in a new play they are writing and she feels she has no one to talk to. Then one day Emily receives a list in the mail from Sloane of crazy things to do this summer and she thinks that if she does them she’ll somehow find Sloane. Along her journey through the list she gets a job where she meets a new friend, and gets to know a boy from school she previously thought was too good for her. She also does many crazy things she never thought she’d have the courage to do. As she moves and changes, though, she still misses her best friend and hopes to find out where she’s gone.
This coming of age story about friendship is relatable to any high school student who has needed help finding their true personality as they grow up. It’s easy to get caught up with what friends like or don’t like, but eventually we all have to find our true self and be brave enough to share it with others. Emily’s story shows how intimidating that can be while also revealing how amazing the results can be when you put yourself out there. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will love this story and will not be disappointed by the ending. The list is fun, but it’s the characters who really shine.
Young Adult Book Reviews 