Things We Know by Heart

April 27, 2015
High school senior Quinn Sullivan's late boyfriend, Trent, was an organ donor. Via a program that allows donors' loved ones to connect with organ recipients, Quinn gets in touch with (and hears back from) all of them, except for Colton Thomas, who received Trent's heart. Although it is against the rules, Quinn tracks down Colton to get a look at him, and the two end up spending a memorable day together. Soon Quinn and Colton are diving headfirst into new romance, and as she falls for him, the truth of why they met in the first place (which she has kept secret from him) looms like a storm cloud. Medical hook aside, Kirby's (Golden) story is, at its core, a sweet, budding romance, set against the backdrop of Quinn's loving family. Questions of whether Trent's heart still beats for her within Colton's body and whether the circumstances that spark a romance matter linger throughout Kirby's story of letting go and moving forward. Ages 14âup. Agent: Leigh Feldman, Leigh Feldman Literary.

February 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-Junior Quinn Sullivan finds it hard to forget the night that her life changed in an instant when her boyfriend, Trent, was killed in a car accident. Healthy and only 17, his organs were donated to five different people. After 282 days and several written letters, Quinn meets the recipients of Trent's organs-all but one of them. Who received Trent's heart and why didn't that person come forward? Quinn needs to know and begins combing websites looking for clues. She eventually finds the receiver, Colton Thomas, and sets out to meet him in person. The love story that follows will hook readers-especially those who enjoyed John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton, 2012). The author has created believable and likable characters who will remind readers to seize the moment and live each day to the fullest. Each chapter is introduced by a fact, quote, or statistic about the heart. The writing is easy to follow yet rhythmic and honest. The one romantic scene is dealt with delicately; sex happens off the page. Kirby brings attention to the importance of organ donation without sounding preachy. VERDICT This memorable romance will ring true with teens, and librarians won't be able to keep it on the shelf.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
Trent died in a car accident 400 days ago, leaving Quinn, his girlfriend, with crushing, unremitting grief that has derailed her life.Trent's organs were donated, and Quinn believes that if she could just make contact with the person who received his heart, it might, somehow, help her deal with the pain. So she tracks Colton down, discovering a charming 18-year-old surfer and kayaker who is just beginning to get his life back together after years of illness. She falls for him-and he for her-in a big way. It's not what she had planned, but when he presents her with a sunflower, the same type of blossom that Trent kicked off their relationship with, she's hooked. Their connection is based on lies: He doesn't reveal that he's had a heart transplant, and she doesn't tell him about her connection either. Kindly advice from her older sister, who is recovering from her own recently ended relationship, and from other members of her gentle, loving family (who, surprisingly, have allowed her to virtually wallow in grief for so long), and Colton's tender, genial demeanor help Quinn rediscover happiness. Predictable and a little syrupy, this effort is ultimately sustained by well-rounded characters and the romantic tension of unrevealed secrets. Just the thing for a day or two at the beach. (Romance. 11-16)