VOYA, October 2014 (Vol. 37, No. 4) - Jane Van Wiemokly
Living in a condo while their wealthy parents travel constantly, Olivia and her twin brother, Liam, attend different high schools. While the siblings are close, Liam starts to forge his own social life, which makes Olivia feel rudderless. Assigned to do a school project together, Olivia and Zoey clash over their differences. Zoey is from a poor family in a bad neighborhood. Her struggles include having a young sister bullied in school, working a late-night job to help make ends meet, and having a single mother trying to find a better job. It does not help having a reputation as a boyfriend stealer. Liam falls for Zoey, but so does Olivia, and her sentiment is returned. There are so many (too many?) issues going on here: bullying; wealth versus poverty; class; sexual orientation; changing family dynamics; a “cheating” triangle—all play a part in this story. The main characters are not likeable, however, so there is less chance of readers being invested in their stories. In alternating first-person chapters, both Olivia and Zoey come across as standoffish with major attitude, and the reader does not get enough detail and build-up from Grace to explain and lead up to their sexual orientation discovery. They barely discuss it with each other, simply falling into the sexual relationship with no angst or questioning. While it is gratifying that acceptance comes easily, especially from Liam, everything feels too simplistic. Reviewer: Jane Van Wiemokly; Ages 12 to 18.
No One Needs to Know
by Amanda GraceView All Available Formats & Editions
Olivia Reynolds and her twin brother Liam have been best friends their whole lives. But ever since he started dating, Liam has barely had time for Olivia, making her feel powerless and alone. Blaming his string of girlfriends, Olivia does whatever she can to drive them away.
Until she meets Zoey, Liam’s latest fling. A call-it-like-she-sees-it kind of girl,
… See more details belowOverview
Olivia Reynolds and her twin brother Liam have been best friends their whole lives. But ever since he started dating, Liam has barely had time for Olivia, making her feel powerless and alone. Blaming his string of girlfriends, Olivia does whatever she can to drive them away.
Until she meets Zoey, Liam’s latest fling. A call-it-like-she-sees-it kind of girl, Zoey sees right through Olivia’s tricks. What starts as verbal sparring turns into surprising intimacy, and then something different builds between them. Something that feels a lot like love.
But when Liam confesses that he’s falling for Zoey, that she’s more than just a fling, Olivia has to decide who deserves happiness more: her brother or herself.
Praise:
"A surprisingly sweet take on two girls falling in love."—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"A no-nonsense, gracefully handled romance about girls who just happen to love girls."
—BOOKLIST
Editorial Reviews
School Library Journal
07/01/2014Gr 9 Up—Olivia and her twin brother, Liam, are wealthy latchkey kids who don't see their parents much. Zoey is a working-class girl helping support her single mother and little sister in their rough neighborhood near Seattle. When Liam falls for Zoey, Olivia and the other girls at her school don't approve, since Zoey has a reputation as a notorious boyfriend-stealer. But when Liam invites Zoey to come with him and Olivia to their lake house, Olivia and Zoey discover a mutual attraction. It's a surprisingly sweet take on two girls falling in love and struggling with their feelings, their families, and their baggage, but not with any homophobia—not even from the jilted brother, who is surprised but approving. Told in alternating viewpoints, readers see Olivia and Zoey navigate their feelings and their complex social situation with clear writing and a well-paced plot. There is some language and drug usage, but the general message of love and support among different people shines through brightly. "Wholesome" is a strange word to describe a YA book that deals with tricky class issues, sexual orientation, mean-girl bullying, and love triangles, but this story earns that description.—Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City
Product Details
- ISBN-13:
- 9780738736259
- Publisher:
- Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
- Publication date:
- 09/08/2014
- Pages:
- 264
- Sales rank:
- 274,972
- Product dimensions:
- 5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)
- Age Range:
- 12 - 17 Years
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