The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World

May 15, 2019
Two teenagers with disparate outlooks on life form a friendship that shakes up their lives as the world shakes up around them. In economically depressed, rural Fog Harbor County, Washington, two high schools whose rivalry is said to go back as far as the early 1900s merge, much to the displeasure of both communities. But Billy Sloat, who is white and a loner at his own school, is excited for some changes that might finally put the Rome vs. Carthage rivalry to rest. Lydia Lemon, a half-Filipina, half-white student from Carthage, does not even like the people from her own town, so her views on the merger are dim. Though Billy's eternal hopefulness clashes with Lydia's darker outlook on life, they discover a unique kinship. Both have experienced parental loss and live in difficult circumstances--Billy lives with his ill-tempered grandmother and Lydia, in the apartment behind the bar her father runs--and over time, they open up and share intimate secrets with each other. As their lives come together, the outside world seems to fall apart, evidenced by an unlikely tornado and a fog that swallows up the town. Billy's maltreatment by those he loves becomes exhausting, as does his unshakeable "happiness is gratitude" mentality amid all the chaos and negativity. But lessons in forgiveness, self-love, and embracing vulnerability redeem this seemingly apocalyptic story. Surreal, bizarre, yet ultimately comforting. (Fiction. 13-18)

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Starred review from June 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Reed introduces readers to the "grand" state of Washington-home to the Rome Unicorns and Carthage Dragons, and Billy Sloat and Lydia Lemon. Billy lives his life as an optimist, or as optimistic as you can get with no mother, a cranky grandmother, and a drug-addicted missing uncle. Lydia, on the other hand, sees life as an endless cycle of misery and gloom. When the two towns' schools must survive under the same roof, Billy's and Lydia's worlds collide. At first, Lydia is wary of Billy, as she is with all the people she meets, but as time goes on, she realizes that some of Billy's optimism might just be rubbing off on her. And Billy realizes that maybe he can have a decent friend and someone he can count on. The unlikely duo forge a beautiful and strong relationship that changes them both. This is a fascinating story that's incredibly hard to put down. Reed does a fantastic job of connecting readers to her characters with quick chapters that alternate between Billy's and Lydia's viewpoints, and the tale is so captivating that teens easily feel the emotions Billy and Lydia struggle with throughout the entirety of the novel. VERDICT Fans of Rainbow Rowell and John Green who also like a bit of fantasy will fall in love with Billy and Lydia. A great purchase for all contemporary young adult collections.-Caitlin Wilson, Meadowdale Library, North Chesterfield, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019
Grades 9-12 Billy and Lydia are both lonely and in pain. When their two economically depressed towns merge rival high schools, they find friendship in one another, despite Lydia's desire to be alone. As soon as they connect, however, impossible events start happening around them, and then the world begins to literally fall apart. Reed (The Nowhere Girls, 2017) has written a classic story of friendship?with a few unconventional additions: a reclusive rock star uncle, a house that is trying to kill Billy, an imaginary little girl who follows Lydia around, a bloviating and dangerous American president known only as The King, and the biblical weather patterns that begin to form as soon as Billy and Lydia become friends. This ambitious novel's core of true friendship and emotional honesty keeps its surreal plot from feeling cluttered or confusing. Reed explores loneliness and how difficult it can be to let oneself be loved in the wake of grief, trauma, or abuse?which is why teens will deeply relate to these characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)