90 Days of Different

June 15, 2017
After her boyfriend breaks up with her, claiming she is too predictable, 18-year-old Sophie agrees to a plan that is sure to get her out of her comfort zone. For Sophie, control is everything. Whether it is getting the highest grades possible, keeping her things organized, or hovering over her father and little brother (she's taken care of them ever since her mother died), she needs to have a plan. But when her best friend, Ella, challenges her to do something new every day for 90 days, Sophie reluctantly accepts. While picking a different ice cream or creating a greater social media presence are easy, however, Ella's other plans are far more difficult. As Sophie begins to open up to risk and change, she uncovers the real reason for her structured life. While Sophie's evolution is engaging, the too-restrictive plot device stunts the emotional effect of her transformation. The result is a 91-chapter effort that reads more as a how-to book for creating the ultimate summer than as a story of one girl's emotional journey from pain to healing. Improbable dialogue, a lack of diversity (white is the strong default), and rushed pacing combine to form a story that is anything but different. Overly structured and flat. (Fiction. 12-16)

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August 1, 2017

Gr 10 Up-Ella and Sophie are friends who are spending their last summer at home before college. Ella has decided to help Sophie get out of her comfort zone by coming up with new and different things for Sophie to do. The hitch? Sophie can't say no to any of them and she must document her journey, publicly, on social media. Told from Sophie's point of view, the narrative gives readers an inside look into her feelings about this adventure. She must come to terms with her own insecurities, while also learning something new. She partakes in a multitude of different activities, from a 5k run called The Dirty Duck Run to volunteering at a soup kitchen. While doing these things, the teen learns a lot about not only herself, but also about the people she meets. She also discovers the impact that her story has on others in the world via social media. This well-told narrative shows how one can branch out of one's comfort zone, and also how social media and the Internet can have a positive impact on the world. VERDICT A fun, engaging read, particularly for those who are about to begin a new phase in their lives. A great pick for libraries in need of more contemporary fiction.-Tegan Anclade, Lake Villa District Library, IL

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