If This Were a Story by Beth Turley - ESSENTIAL

If This Were a Story by Beth Turley, 249 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2018. $17.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Ten-year-old Hannah finds a note on her classroom floor saying that no one wants to be friends with her. This draws new people into her circle - a concerned counselor and a misunderstood bully, and highlights some the very complicated stresses she is under - parents who fight, friends who manipulate. Told in first person, Hannah often references what direction a classical story structure would go, and then departs from it in her own story.

I have to acknowledge how much I disliked the ending in which everything gets wrapped up perfectly. But, other than that, I think this book addresses some very tender topics in a delicate and interesting way. The writing was beautiful and the characters were layered and relatable.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher