Kill All Happies

May 8, 2017
With high school graduation out of the way, Vic Navarro is ready to ditch her desert town of Rancho Soldado, but not before throwing an epic—and forbidden—graduation party at Happies, a kitschy restaurant and local institution that is about to close. Beyond being a raging sendoff, the party is also the best possible revenge against the Happies-hating Annette Thrope: teacher, realtor, town council chair, and longtime nemesis of the town’s teens. Cohn (Emergent) returns to her roots writing realistic teen fiction with snappy dialogue, a sassy go-getting lead character, a hard-to-attain crush, and best friends for life. Though Happies—and its long-closed nearby amusement park—is a memorable setting for a final hurrah, the misunderstandings, betrayals, and solutions play out predictably. Cohn’s rowdy humor and quirky cast are entertaining, but the story’s cutesiness can start to feel exhausting: nicknames abound, including the too-clever Miss Ann Thrope for the reviled teacher, and Vic and her friends are known as the Cuddle Huddle for their three-way hug sessions, a decade-long habit. Like Vic’s party, it winds up being a bit much. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, William Morris Endeavor.

April 1, 2017
Over the course of two days in a desert California town, a high school graduation celebration challenges friendships and introduces post-graduation realities. Victoria "Vic" Navarro (white, Filipino, and generic "Native American") is throwing one final fete for her graduating class at Happies, the legendary local restaurant that has popularized Rancho Soldado but is now closing. With her two best friends, Genesis "Fletch" Fletcher (adopted from "Africa" by an interracial couple) and Mercedes "Slick" Zavala-Kim (mixed-race, Mexican/Korean), Vic has secured permission from Happies' owner to orchestrate a final hurrah, distracted Rancho Soldado's most villainous teacher Annette Thrope (called "Miss Ann Thrope" by her students), and landed her crush's assistance for the night. In Vic's account, alcohol flows, music plays, and pot brownies are consumed, while lustful teenagers tuck themselves in all corners of the property. After a large band of geriatric Happies fanatics crashes the festivities, the growing crowd morphs from a discreet rager into a grander, final tribute. Girls repeatedly refer to themselves as dumbsluts or bitches, and somehow these teens are well-versed in dated pop-culture references. In Cohn fashion, characters strike varying chords of teen attitude from idealistic to cynical, naive to sophisticated. The diversity is pleasing to see, but it is skin deep--there is no plumbing of cultural nuance. Readers who find "dumbslut" endearing will likely enjoy the crazed teenager angst, but the rest may find themselves wondering why they should care about these hormone-charged characters. (Fiction. 14-18)

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April 1, 2017
Gr 10 Up-Victoria Navarro is determined to throw one last bash for the senior class, especially if it means getting some action from the hottest guy in town. It's time to say goodbye to high school and Happies, the local landmark restaurant. The party will be epic as long as Vic can keep her nemesis, teacher, and town councilwoman, Miss Ann Thrope from finding out. She didn't expect busloads and biker gangs of nostalgic Happies fans to show up and force their way into the adjoining theme park. Either way, it's going to be a night to remember. This 21st-century update on classic teen movie high jinks is a fun read featuring a diverse cast of characters and a lot of heart. Cohn perfectly captures the variable maturity of high school seniors in Vic's voice, referencing sex and drug use and sprinkling in plenty of realistic profanity. VERDICT A relatable and entertaining story, recommended for public and high school libraries.-Elizabeth Saxton, Tiffin, OH

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2017
Grades 10-1 Cohn pulls conceits from previous books and combines them into a high-octane adventure. Like Very in Very LeFreak (2010), Vic Navarro is a super multitasker. And like Norah from Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2006), she's about to embark on an epic all-nighter. It's the day after graduation, and Vic has gotten permission from the owner of Happiesthe defunct landmark restaurant and theme park that defined their desert townto throw the ultimate graduation party. The next 24 hours is a whirlwind of planning, pushing, prioritizing. Come the party, secrets are kept and exposed, love is lost and found, and hopes and dreams finally come in to focus. Vic is a dominant and very funny heroine, but she is almost overshadowed by Happies itself, which Cohn molds into a myth. Set in the desert between Las Vegas and California, Happies was known for food, fun, and the fans that still hold conventions in its honor, and all of that gets its just due at the party. An alcohol-fueled, expletive-tinged evening is had by all in this over-the-top offering.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)