Underneath Everything

August 10, 2015
During her freshman and sophomore years of high school, Mattie was part of a popular, somewhat wild group of girls; when ringleader Jolene’s pranks turned cruel and dangerous, Mattie and her friend Kris left the pack for the “fantastic, untouchable status as Nobodies.” Now a senior, Mattie finds herself drawn back into her old circle of friends. She is unable to ignore Jolene’s magnetism (and frequent text messages) and has trouble resisting the boy Jolene stole from her. Exploring the effects of mind games and obsessive yearnings on a vulnerable teen, first-time author Paul’s writing has a dreamlike quality that will keep readers wondering how much is imagined and how much is real. Jolene is cast as a spiderlike villainess, luring less vibrant victims into her web. The effect she has on her targets is painfully clear, yet her motives are cloudy. Mattie, vacillating between wanting to be invisible and needing to be an object of interest and desire, is as complicated as Jolene, making what lies “underneath everything” difficult to discern. Ages 14–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

August 1, 2015
After dropping off the social grid for a year and a half, Mattie decides to attend a party that will change the course of her senior year in ways she never could have imagined. Running into an ex-boyfriend not only rekindles old feelings, but also sets Mattie down a path that will inevitably force her to confront the same friend who drove her to give it all away. Jolene's power over Mattie is destructive and all-consuming. Only Mattie can decide if the pleasure is worth the pain. Unfortunately for readers, what could have been a haunting story of an obsessive friendship falls flat. Jolene is far too one-sided. Her cruel intentions and manipulations are painfully obvious, and there is absolutely no evidence that she has a redeeming side, making it impossible to understand her hold over Mattie. Even worse, it makes Mattie look weak, and worse yet, references to a sexual attraction between the two feel gratuitous. A painfully slow reveal of what happened to temporarily end their friendship doesn't help matters, as it is both frustrating and disappointing. It is increasingly difficult to muster up any empathy for Mattie, as she appears to be getting exactly what she deserves, at least for most of the novel. As it turns out, what's really underneath everything just isn't all that compelling. (Fiction. 13-17)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-"Once upon a time there were two little girls alone in the world." Mattie and Jolene are-or were-best friends. The friendship, one of extreme closeness, dependency, and even danger, has been over for a year, with neither girl talking to the other. The reason for the break? A boy named Hudson who was Mattie's boyfriend until she saw Hudson and Jolene kissing. And then there is Kris, Mattie's friend since first grade, when their teacher sat them next to each other. Kris is the reason Mattie missed her rendezvous with her boyfriend. Mattie withdraws from everything, except for collecting old maps. For reasons even she does not understand, she decides to attend a Thanksgiving bonfire. When she and Hudson reconnect, Mattie decides it is time to "take back" her life and her friends, but Jolene makes it difficult. Where does truth end, and where do lies begin? What is the difference between trust and blind devotion? In this novel about relationships-both good and bad ones-that goes beyond the "mean girls" concept to the darker places of obsession and toxic relationships, Mattie finds herself walking a narrow line between finding herself and being consumed. Paul compels readers to look beyond the surface at motives and emotions and perhaps examine their own relationships. VERDICT Strong characters, an intense plot, and relatable situations make this debut novel a worthwhile read.-Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2015
Grades 10-1 Senior Mattie has spent the last year almost exclusively with her friend Kris, after the two of them walked away from everyone, especially the charismatic Jolene. Mattie's long relationship with Jolene is complicatedshe stole Mattie's boyfriend, Hudson, for one thing. But that's only the beginning. As the story progresses, readers become almost suffocated by the obsessive, sometimes abusive relationship Mattie and Jolene share. Evoking these disturbing feelings (between the characters, and, by extension, the book's readers) is one thing debut author Paul does well. However, the way she slowly dispenses information, sometimes in flashbacks broken off at critical moments, can distract from the denouement instead of bolstering it. Still, there are enough complications, suspicious behavior, and enigmatic characters to move the story along. The sexual innuendo (and in the case of Mattie and Hudson's relationship, actual sex) makes this most appropriate for an older audience, who may also be familiar with the burdens of intense friendship and the toll they can take.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)