Hole in the Middle

June 18, 2018
Morgan, 16, was born with a literal hole in her middle. This physical difference—which serves as an allegorical and metaphorical device throughout the novel—has forced Morgan into isolation; she only associates with her best friend and roommate, Caro, and her boyfriend, Todd. In a moment of self-acceptance, Morgan decides to “out” herself at a local club by wearing a cutoff T-shirt that exposes her midriff, not realizing that her act will bring unwanted attention, and she is mystified when she becomes famous on the internet. Then Morgan learns of Howie, a boy with a lump of similar size and shape as the hole in her midsection, who may not only be her cure but also, possibly, her missing piece. Debut author Fortmeyer delivers her messages overtly rather than weaving them in with subtlety: Howie’s mother, for example, imparts wisdom on how to be a good person with every line of dialogue. For many readers, though, this directness won’t reduce the impact of Fortmeyer’s otherwise powerful, witty, and funny tale, which integrates a sprinkle of magical realism into the mix. Ages 14–up. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency.

August 15, 2018
Most teens feel like they're missing something, but 17-year-old Morgan was born with a literal hole through her abdomen.Morgan's celebrity fitness guru mother has always shielded her smooth, egg-shaped difference from the world, but Morgan is tired of hiding. Armed with a fake ID, she heads to a local dance club, where, donning a belly shirt and empowered by her anonymity, she reveals the Hole to the world in an act that leaves her feeling free. It's not long before Morgan is an internet sensation, her body public property. She's scrutinized from every angle, the Hole the object of obscene jokes. Then her doctor introduces her to Howie, born with a lump of skin that's the Hole's perfect match. Genetic research on the two of them has led to the possibility of gene therapy that might close the Hole. Will Morgan remain true to herself, missing piece and all? Morgan narrates in a straightforward voice that is at once wry and heartfelt. The relationship between introvert Morgan and her best friend, fat-positive glamour girl Caroline, eclipses the dry love story that evolves between Morgan and sweet-natured Howie. Most characters, including freckled, Jewish Morgan, are assumed white; some people of color are mentioned in passing; and a briefly mentioned character is referred to with they/them pronouns.An empowering, timely feminist read about bodily autonomy and one young woman's fight to keep control of hers. (Fiction. 12-18)

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November 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 Seventeen-year-old North Carolina high-school senior Morgan Stone was born with a fist-sized hole near her belly button, neatly contained by smooth skin?you can literally see through her. This would be difficult for anyone, but the situation is exacerbated by her mother's fame as a fitness trainer. Morgan's best (and only) friend, Caro, is a wonderful support, encouraging Morgan to be proud of her body and stop hiding behind oversize sweaters. Caro's well-meaning advice backfires, however, when Morgan discovers the joy and freedom of dancing at a local club in short t-shirts that display her unusual torso, and "Hole Girl" becomes an overnight internet sensation. Enter "Lump Boy," 18-year-old Howie, who has a mysterious protuberance that is the exact fit to Morgan's hole. Do Morgan and Howie complete each other? Can they cure each other? Do they have any connection beyond the genetic oddity that ties them together? Fortmeyer's debut is a delightful blend of magical realism, body positivity, and feminism that raises the issue of whether we can be complete in ourselves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)