#AmReading YA

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town
Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Short Stories
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

A lyrical and heartfelt collection by an award-winning writer that connects the lives of young people from small towns in Alaska and the American west. Each story is unique, yet universal.

In this book, the impact of wildfire, a wayward priest, or a mysterious disappearance ricochet across communities, threading through stories. Here, ordinary actions such as ice skating or going to church reveal hidden truths. One choice threatens a lifelong friendship. Siblings save each other. Rescue and second chances are possible, and so is revenge.

On the surface, it seems that nothing ever happens in these towns. But Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock shows that underneath that surface, teenagers' lives blaze with fury, with secrets, and with love so strong it burns a path to the future.

Small towns seem to be a source of nostalgia, fascination, contempt, and boredom, among many other things. Those from big cities may wax poetic about small town life, while those who grew up in one could not wait to escape it. Hitchcock explored the many facets of small town living in this collection of stories, which kept me enthralled from beginning to end. 

I first experienced Hitchcock's writing via her debut, The Smell of Other People's Houses, and knew I would be a forever fan. Once again, she crafted stories, which are not normally my go-to, but were written so brilliantly, I found myself devouring the pages. 

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town is a collection of short stories which are connected to each other. The stories are set in rural areas in places like Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Colorado. It delighted me that I was out of the big cities for once and spent most of my time off the coast as well. The stories dealt with everyday issues, while also having several overarching plots that are picked up in the other stories. 

When I first realized these stories were talking about some of the same events, I felt a bit of excitement. Seeing someone from a previous story made me giddy, and I adored looking out for them. Finding the pieces and making the connections became my sport, and I delighted in it. 

But there was more to the masterful storytelling. Hitchcock hits on many dark themes and left me with a lot to chew on. She had me sharing the pain, loss, and rage of these characters, while also allowing me a bit of hope, here and there. When I finished the book, I had tears in my eyes, but also a sense awe as I pondered the idea of connection. I loved the way she looked at small town life, while also making the world a bit smaller showing how these these people who were geographically separated were affected by the same series of events. 

This was one of my most positive experiences with an anthology to date. The characters were well drawn, their emotions perfectly captured, and the storytelling first-rate.  Though all these tales revolved around darker themes, I was still fully drawn into these worlds, which is a testament to the storytelling. Overall, I was captivated by this collection of stories, which left me thinking about human connection and how our lives are more intertwined than we believe. 

Take Three Girls
Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell, Fiona Wood
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Sterling Teen
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Three authors. Three appealing and relatable characters. One smart YA novel about a trio of unlikely friends who team up to take down the school cyberbully.

“Mean stuff spreads so fast. One click. Post. Send. Share. Online bullying = sometimes suicides, so all the private schools have strategies for dealing with it. At St Hilda’s, it’s Wellness classes. We greeted the idea with genuine enthusiasm. Why not? Everyone loves the chance to slack off.”

Popular Ady seems cool and confident at school, but at home her family is falling apart. Brainiac Kate wants to pursue her dreams of playing music, even if it jeopardizes her academic scholarship. And swim champ Clem finds herself disenchanted with the sport . . . and falling for a very wrong boy. When these three very different girls are forced to team up in a wellness class, they’re not too pleased. But over time, they bond—and when they’re all targeted by PSST, a website that dishes out malicious gossip and lies, they decide to take a stand, uncover the culprits, and fight back. But can they really fix a broken system? With each girl’s story told by a different author, as well as intriguing questionnaires from the wellness class included throughout, this empowering novel explores today’s most relevant topics— from cyberbullying and fat shaming to drug abuse and financial stress.

Ady, Kate, and Clem appeared to have nothing in common until they are all targeted by the online gossip of PSST. To combat the ill effects of the cyber bullying, the school instituted a wellness program. Matched solely on the length of a finger, they were placed in a learning group, but these three young women found that they shared more than just long fingers. 

I have read and loved books by all three of these authors. When I heard about this collaboration, I imagined how wonderful a book they penned together could be, and Take Three Girls more than met my expectations. 

These young women were at a crossroads. Ady's family was experiencing financial difficulties which would affect her social currency. Kate couldn't decide if she should pursue her musical dream or stick to the scholastic plan. Clem was struggling with assuming the role of swimming star after an injury and some weight gain. Each had a choice to make, which would impact their everyday lives. I really appreciated the way their struggles were portrayed and loved watching them grow as they took these personal journeys. 

Though this story was about school-wide cyberbullying, it focused on three girl. I loved the depth given to each of these characters. They were complex and layered, and they were full of surprises. Ady was probably the most surprising of the three, because she defied my first impression of her. But I truly adored the entire trio. Each had a unique voice and point of view, and I thought they complemented one another well. 

The authors also crafted a fantastic female friendship. I love an unlikely union, and that was exactly what I found here. No one would have foreseen these three being friends, but they bonded over some very real things, and something utterly lovely grew from their pain. The threads between them were quite loose at the beginning of the story, but they grew tighter and tighter as their personal lives grew more tumultuous and PSST escalated with its attacks. Their bond was a beautiful thing, and I reveled in seeing it solidify. 

Take Three Girls tackled an extraordinary number of issues, but it never felt overwhelming, because of the way the authors incorporated them into the story. The three characters were each dealing with certain things, but many other issues were introduced via the PSST postings, diary entries, and wellness lessons. Some were explored more deeply than others, but all were approached in a very honest way. 

It was a pleasure getting to know Ady, Kate, and Clem. I was proud of how much they learned, experienced, and grew. This may have been a story about three girls, but I believe many young women will be able to relate to this tale and appreciate the array of issues examined in this book. 

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

Do you like small town settings?
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