Claire Swinarski

Eowyn's narration was compelling and her feelings very evocative. Her struggles with her family and with navigating the changes around her, including the potential loss of a deep friendship, were really good reading! But it would almost have been better to have no chapters from the perspective of her maybe-no-longer-best friend Jules than the few chapters we did get, because it really highlighted what short shrift that perspective got, and how then unrealistic some of the events of the novel were. The Jules character really deserved an equal part of the book, and it was weird that she got, like, a sixth of it instead. I think die-hard theatre kids will definitely love this, though.… (more)

This book had me hooked! Anna is the new girl at school and she stumbles onto a mystery she just has to solve. Why does everyone dislike Rachel Riley? And why won't anyone talk about how this formerly popular girl no longer has friends? Anna is an aspiring podcaster. So in addition to traditional chapters, the book is told in interviews, emails, and research articles.
*we did this for book club and although I really liked this book. The students weren't as enamored. Some of the 8th graders felt it was too young or the voice didn't ring true to them.… (more)