Things I Should Have Known

December 19, 2016
High school senior Chloe is well liked, gets good grades, and has a nearly perfect boyfriend, but she worries about her older sister, Ivy, who has autism. When it dawns on Chloe that Ivy might be lonely, she arranges a date for her with Ethan, a boy in Ivy’s special needs class. But Ethan’s brother (and chaperone) turns out to be Chloe’s despicable classmate, David, who “only talks in class to attack what someone else has said.” In this insightful account of misconceptions, family conflict, and the ironies of love, LaZebnik (Wrong About the Guy) examines the evolution of several relationships, including the foundering romance between Ivy and Ethan, and the unexpected bond that forms between Chloe and David. During the weeks that follow, Chloe is happily surprised to discover a greater depth to her stepfather’s devotion to Ivy but saddened to realize that her boyfriend and closest girlfriend will never truly understand her complicated home life. Writing with honesty and wit, LaZebnik offers a thought-provoking portrayal of how people can come together despite, or perhaps because of, their differences. Ages 12–up. Agent: Alexis Hurley, Inkwell Management.

December 15, 2016
The complexities of Chloe's love life intertwine with her autistic sister's. White high schooler Chloe has never had trouble fitting in socially. With her father dead of cancer, her mother recently remarried to a know-it-all, and her older sister, Ivy, on the spectrum, Chloe doesn't have the time or energy to worry about her peers' perceptions. And she certainly doesn't care if she's the object of snarky white classmate David's insults. But when Ivy begins to question Chloe's dating rituals, Chloe decides that perhaps Ivy needs a boyfriend of her own. After some investigation, Chloe convinces Ivy to try a date with Ethan from her specialty school. Ever the protective sister, Chloe accompanies Ivy only to discover that Ethan's assisted by his brother--who is none other than David. As the dates continue, the real sparks form between Chloe and her former nemesis as they both understand the responsibilities of having an autistic family member. Chloe's realistic narrative never sugarcoats both the challenges and gifts of living with someone with autism. In a twist that provokes more thought, Ivy may be more attracted to classmate Diana than Ethan. While the author expertly handles myriad issues regarding sexuality for those with autism and their families, the pacing does lose speed. An eye-opening look at autism and those it touches. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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December 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-LaZebnik's latest novel, following Epic Fail, takes the meddling matchmaker trope and gives it a charming modern-day twist. Chloe Mitchell's life isn't perfect, but it sure looks like it is from a distance: she's popular and beautiful, and she's got a gorgeous boyfriend wrapped around her finger. At home, things are much messier. When she decides that her older sister, Ivy, who is on the autism spectrum, might be feeling romantic urges, Chloe decides to take up the challenge of finding Ivy's soul mate. If only her reviled classmate David Fields weren't inserting himself into Chloe's life. Like Jane Austen's classic character Emma Woodhouse, Chloe is inclined to act first and ask questions later, and the chain of events unleashed by her actions end up in a disaster that exposes truths about her sister and Chloe herself. Although the Los Angeles setting occasionally seems generic, the adult characters could have used some fleshing out, and some plot twists aren't as surprising as one might desire, the dialogue has a snappy, realistic quality that will keep readers engaged. Best of all, Chloe and her sister are so authentically portrayed, they nearly leap off the page. VERDICT This story about a girl who upends her own life by trying to help someone else is a winning read for young people ready for a realistic romance about life's challenges. Suggest to fans of Clueless, also inspired by Austen's Emma.-Sara Scribner, Marshall Fundamental School, Pasadena, CA

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