Holding Up the Universe (Alfred A. Knopf, 2016) by Jennifer Niven is an interesting read told from two colliding viewpoints.
On the one side is LIbby Strout, who three years ago had to have a wall knocked down to get her out of the house. She’d lost her mother and ate and ate until she weighed 653 pounds. Now that she’s lost 302 pounds, she can walk, run, dance, ride in a car, and Libby’s going to high school. Where, of course, she’s still the biggest girl there.
On the opposite side is Jack Masselin. He has a secret–face blindness that makes it very difficult for him to tell people apart, even his own family. He covers it up by being the life of the party–being friendly with everyone. Not his girlfriend or even his family know about his problem.
A dare at school makes the two teens meet and they are forced to spend time together. The weird part is–they should be enemies–both are surprised at how well they get along.
I think the bad language could have been toned down, but I do understand there are teens who talk like this.
On her website, Jennifer Niven says her stories are “about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” That definitely fits this story. Read more about her here.
Category: YA Novels
young adult novels (for 13+ yo)
The Passion of Dolssa
The Passion of Dolssa (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2016) by Julie Berry is a historical novel that shows a time of extreme prejudice for those who don’t believe the same way as a another group–and the latter are in power. In this case it’s the Catholic church inquisitors going after men and women who may have merely talked about the love of Jesus. This story is told in multiple viewpoints and was fascinating. I grieved for Dolssa, for Botille and her family, and even somewhat for some of Dolssa’s hunters. At some points it may be a difficult read, but it’s definitely worth persisting.
This book is a 2017 Michael L. Printz Honor title, a New York Times Notable Book, and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
The author writes middle grade as well as YA and you can see all her titles here. Plus on that page there’s a short video about the setting and historical backdrop for this novel.
The Diabolic
The Diabolic (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016) by S.J. Kincaid is an amazing story.
Nemesis is a diabolic–created to protect Sidonia. She’ll do anything to keep Donia safe, including killing. So when Nemesis is asked to impersonate teenage Donia at the Imperial Court, she’ll do that too out of love, even though it’s more like trying to make a tiger, or something worse, into a kitten.
Here’s the book trailer.
The exciting news is that a sequel is coming out this year in October. Looking forward to The Empress! S.J. Kincaid has also written the Insignia series, which I need to check out. Read about the author on her website.
For writers, you’ll want to read this post on Ellen Oh’s blog: What’s the Best Writerly Advice You’d Give Your Younger Self – S.J. Kincaid.
The Secret of a Heart Note
The Secret of a Heart Note (Katherine Tegen Books, 2016) by Stacey Lee had me in awe of the author’s imagination at creating characters with a unique ability. I love her descriptions of what Mimosa and her mom can smell as aromateurs, for example: “I clamp my lips, but the scent of my anger, like burnt rubber tires, blackens the space around me.”
Fifteen-year-old Mimosa has convinced her mom to let her go to public high school versus being homeschooled, but she’s having trouble balancing her duties as an aromateur with her seven periods of classes. When a client shows up whom Mim knows personally, its obvious she hasn’t read his application, so Mom knows something is up.
What do aromateurs do? Help the lovelorn. “Clients come to us when they’ve tried everything to woo the target but can’t get the fire going, whether due to shyness, insecurity, or even prejudice.” Mim and her mom follow the Rulebook created by their ancestors. And the worst rule is “Love witches can’t fall in love.”
This is Stacey’s third book; now I want to read the others.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns
The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Greenwillow Books, 2011) by Rae Carson is a wonderful YA fantasy. I just discovered book one of this trilogy and raced through it.
Sixteen-year-old Elisa has been chosen to be the Godstone bearer. But as the younger princess, the princess who keeps getting bigger and bigger because she eats when she’s upset, she doesn’t see how she can ever be used. Married off to a neighboring king, at risk from the enemy, Elisa goes on a journey that changes her and her whole world.
Loved this book and am looking forward to reading book two, The Crown of Embers (2012) and following it up with The Bitter Kingdom (2013). Why didn’t I hear about this New York Times bestselling trilogy earlier?!
This was Rae Carson’s debut novel and was a William C. Morris Award Finalist. The trilogy has been translated into other languages. See covers here. She’s also written other stories in the universe, The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories (Girl of Fire and Thorns Novella). 
Like a River Glorious, book one in the Gold Seer Trilogy, came out in September 2015 and is a YALSA 2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. More to add to my TBR pile. 😉