The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things

February 2, 2015
In a departure from her supernatural and postapocalyptic YA fiction, Aguirre (the Razorland trilogy) introduces 16-year-old Sage Czinski, also known as “Princess Post-it” for her habit of leaving encouraging notes on the lockers of classmates having a bad day. What Sage’s fellow students don’t know is that her upbeat attitude doesn’t come easy—it takes conscious effort to push down memories of a harrowing childhood that includes an event too awful to think about or name, even now that she’s living safely with her aunt. Absent a best friend after finding out that platonic pal Ryan hasn’t been totally honest with her, Sage is intrigued by new student Shane. He has his own difficult past, and Aguirre does an excellent job of showing two wounded teens growing closer. Sage’s secret eventually comes out, but when it turns out that she and Shane can survive this and other difficulties, things begin to look surprisingly hopeful. Aguirre offers a satisfying romance while eloquently conveying a message about facing the truth and not giving up on oneself or others. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency.

February 1, 2015
Sage is known around school as Princess Post-it for her efforts to cheer others up by sticking anonymous compliments on their lockers.Sage, 16, lives with her aunt in the small Illinois town of Farmburg. She maintains a picture-perfect facade to keep "Shadow Sage" at bay-anger from her mysterious former life that sometimes threatens to overwhelm her. Shane is a good-looking, guitar-playing new kid in school who's bullied by football star Dylan. Sage takes Shane under her do-gooder wing when she discovers that he lives alone in a trailer on the outskirts of town. In trying to fix Shane's life, Sage falls in love with him. Meanwhile, Sage's best friend, Ryan, admits that he's been using her as cover while sleeping with a 21-year-old who thinks he's 19. Family secrets are part of most of the characters' lives, but Sage's tragic back story, when it's finally revealed, trumps them all. Stumbling through soap opera-like teen romance on her way to happily ever after, Sage's rambling narrative veers into a Wild West-style showdown with Dylan when he tries to intimidate her: "Once he has some bullets for his figurative gun, I'm going down," which Shadow Sage can't let happen. Although it touches on serious issues, the melodramatic plot isn't helped by wooden dialogue and stilted prose. This one's strictly for fans of lightweight romance. (Fiction. 12-16)

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February 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-Sage Czinski just wants to do her time in high school. Though not popular, she is not relegated to burner status either. Her calling card is leaving positive Post-it notes on her classmates' lockers, earning the nickname "Princess Post-it." She used to have a crush on her best friend Ryan, but otherwise has never really fallen for any guy-until Shane Cavendish arrives at her small-town Illinois school. He plays guitar, has dreamy eyes, and lets Sage meddle in his life, despite his hardened surface. Sage knows that he is hiding something, but then, so is she, and she is afraid to let him know the real girl behind her upbeat facade. Aguirre's first stand-alone novel has a slow-building story line, more focused on character development than external action. The reveal of the secret that the protagonist hides so closely from Shane and her friends will feel anticlimactic to readers. Though she claims to be holding back an angry and reckless girl, Sage's actions rarely suggest that. Additionally, the author fills the narrative with minute details of Sage's life, slowing the pace considerably. "Good girl" and "bad boy" falling for each other has been done time and time again and while this work does not put a new spin on the trope, Sage's positive nature is a hidden gem in this pleasant tale. VERDICT For teens who can't get enough of YA romance.-Sarah Wethern, Douglas County Library, Alexandria, MN

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