That Selfie Girl

February 15, 2016
High’s (Teeny Little Grief Machines) addition to the Gravel Road Verse series, written at a third-grade reading level, introduces 17-year-old Macy Rain, who died when she crashed her car while taking a selfie and now chronicles her experiences in heaven. There, Macy falls in love with a fellow teen angel in the “Died by Texting” section of heaven, prevents a student at her old high school from committing a violent act, and receives kudos from God himself. The action zips along in clipped, sometimes glib poems (“All because/ you wanted/ a picture/ of your face,/ to show off to/ the human race”), though the serious underlying themes may still resonate with readers. Ages 14–up.

January 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-In this teen novel written in verse, Oatman High attempts to convey a slightly dramatic, slightly humorous story about a girl who loses her life in a car crash while driving and posting pictures on her phone. In the present and afterlife, Macy is now famously dead and infamously known as The Selfie Girl. Through Twitter hashtags, Macy narrates her death from the moment she tweeted about her favorite band and rocking her new sweater to the moment she has to leave her family and friends for Heaven. Readers will find the style of narration unique, similar to rhythms and beats found in slam poetry, which will appeal to teens. The interpretation of Heaven as a vacation destination complete with travel guides and FAQ Afterlife Brochures is also amusing, but the plot is loosely strung together with some strange afterlife romance, an attempt to right wrongs on Earth, and the not-so-subtle message of "Don't text/Tweet/Instagram while driving." Those who enjoy novels in verse, such as Sonya Sones's To Be Perfectly Honest (S. & S., 2013), will start this story intrigued and in tune to the musings of Macy but may end a bit disappointed in the predictable conclusion. VERDICT An amusing interpretation of death and the afterlife from the perspective of a social media princess, yet the heavy message may deter readers.-Jessica Espejel, New York Public Library

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