Every Other Weekend

October 15, 2019
Two teens from broken families find solace in one another's company. After the death of his oldest brother, Adam and the rest of his family grieve in ways that pull them apart. When Adam's father moves out, Adam and his other brother alternate weekends with each of their parents. At his father's apartment complex, Adam meets his neighbor Jolene, a 15-year-old aspiring filmmaker who is a pawn in her parents' bitter divorce. Her father cheated on her mother with a much younger woman, and Jolene is forced to spend every other weekend with her since her father is never home. Though details of their situations differ, Adam's and Jolene's lives parallel one another as they develop a special kinship in which Jolene is a balm to soothe Adam's grief and anger with his father and Adam offers a critical remedy for Jolene's deep-rooted loneliness. Though the story feels long-winded at times, Johnson (Even If I Fall, 2019, etc.) has written a complex and emotionally charged character-driven story that explores a variety of painfully human themes, including loss and emotional abuse. Adam's and Jolene's struggles will draw readers in, and the slow-burning romance will touch readers' hearts. The book situates whiteness as the norm; Jolene's father's girlfriend is Asian, and two of Jolene's friends are dark skinned. Heart-wrenching and hopeful--a reminder that we can change our stories. (Fiction. 13-18)

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November 1, 2019

Gr 7 Up-Adam's parents have separated due to grief over the death of their oldest son. Jolene is being used as a pawn in her parent's divorce. On the surface, this is the story of a friendship and budding romance between Adam and Jolene, who spend every other weekend at their dads' apartments. However, in addition to the tender love story, the book takes on a number of important issues for young adults including divorce, loss, grief, family dynamics, relationship control, and sexual assault. The two main characters are well developed and teen readers will easily empathize with their emotions, their family conflicts, and the events that unfold in their lives. The narrative perspective shifts with each chapter, alternating between Adam and Jolene, providing readers with the inner thoughts of each character both when they are together on the weekend, and during the weeks apart. The author also uses texting conversation threads as the communication vehicle in between their visits, a technique that will resonate with teens. VERDICT Romance fans will especially enjoy this title, as it delves into many family and relationship issues. Recommended for general purchase.-Theresa Muraski, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2019
Grades 8-11 Adam's family is blown apart by his brother's death, to the point where his parents separate to try to ease the hurt they feel. Jolene is cruelly used as a pawn in her parents' bitter divorce agreement, forced to spend two weekends a month at her dad's place with his girlfriend when her dad isn't even there. Adam, it turns out, spends weekends at his dad's place in the same building. Johnson beautifully evokes the tender romance that eventually builds between them after their first encounters, offering readers access to the two teens' inner thoughts and fragile psyches. Jolene's loneliness, especially, will break hearts; already practically abandoned by her parents, she knows her weekends with Adam could end if his family reunites. The guilt she feels in hoping to maintain their situation just adds to her level of emotional fragility. Never is her vulnerability more heartrending than when she ends up having a chilling encounter with a sexual predator in the building. The positive, not overly simplistic resolution to the complicated story will touch readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)