Everything that Makes You

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 2, 2016

Review

A well written first novel for young adults that follows the same teenage girl in two stories. What if...the accident that scared the face of Fiona Doyle as a child had never happened? In the other, Fi is a top lacrosse player in the state who has a severe injury during her senior year who meets a boy with a terminal illness. In alternating chapters there are two parallel stories, the same characters, schools, but different perspectives, interests and choices. A coming of age story with family dynamics, friendships, tragedy, romance, loss and choices. The alternative plots are well woven together, each realistic, with enough teen angst and growth of the character to be satisfying. This makes the reader think about the "what if" in life, who are we, is it a matter of choice or fate that makes each of us who we are.

Overall Book Score: very good