The Opposite of Innocent

June 25, 2018
Lily’s thrilled when her parents’ friend Luke comes back to town. She was 12 when he left, still a kid; at 14, she has breasts, wears makeup, and her braces are off—and Luke, who is 29, makes it clear that he notices the changes. Sones (Saving Red) tells the story in her characteristic free verse, which effectively reveals Lily’s feelings and moves the story along. Luke is staying with Lily’s family, so it’s easy for him to help her parents by driving Lily and her sister around town. After a lot of flirting, the two declare their interest, which leads to romantic kissing that makes Lily feel powerful and adored. Soon, though, Luke begins pressuring Lily to do more—things she’s not comfortable with. The ending sidesteps key questions about adult reactions and how Lily will shape her narrative moving forward, but authentic details and situations show both the appeal and the inherent power imbalance of being a teenager involved with an adult. Ages 14–up. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

August 1, 2018
A young woman is sexually abused by a close family friend in this latest novel in verse from veteran poet Sones (Saving Red, 2016, etc.).Fourteen-year-old Lily has long harbored a crush on her father's friend Luke and is thrilled to learn that he is going to stay with her family upon his return from a research trip to Kenya. She fervently hopes that he'll see she is no longer a little kid, "Now / I feel more like a butterfly-- / a butterfly who can't decide / which wings to wear." Initially, Lily is thrilled when he seems to be returning her interest, but this gives way to palpable dread and shame as he pushes her into progressively more threatening situations. Factors that often play into sexual abuse emerge within this harrowing story, including Luke's grooming of Lily from a young age and his use of threats to keep her from telling anyone. She becomes isolated from her best friends, Rose and Taylor, and she is already accustomed to her father's hurtful emotional absence from her life. While realistic, these details sometimes feel a bit rote. All of the main characters seem to be white by default; Luke is English, Taylor is gay, and a caring teacher of Lily's is described as having brown skin.A quick moving and emotionally charged but ultimately underdeveloped novel that explores an important subject. (Verse novel. 14-18)

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September 1, 2018

Gr 8 Up-When Lily was little, she used to throw her arms around Luke's neck and tell him she was going to marry him one day. He would smile down at her and tell her he'd wait for her. Now Lily is 14, and she feels very grown up-so grown up that when Luke returns after being in Kenya for two years, she wonders if he sees her as a woman or as the same kid she was when he left. Soon it's very clear that Luke desires to be with her, but it's complicated-he's 29. He convinces her to hide their relationship from her friends and family. At first, she's flattered by his attention. As their interactions become more and more physical, Lily begins to feel uncomfortable with the progression of their "romance," but by then, it's too late-she's trapped in an abusive relationship. Readers' frustration at Lily's naïveté will turn to compassion and horror at Luke's manipulations, and then to hope as Lily searches for the courage to escape his clutches. This novel in verse concisely examines one girl's experience of sexual abuse in a way that is both timely and relevant. The abrupt and open-ended ending might not satisfy all readers, but it feels organic to the format and text. VERDICT A must-have for YA collections.-Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

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