Nick and June Were Here

December 1, 2018
Good girl and bad boy go on the run, with bittersweet consequences. Earnest and disciplined June can't wait for college with her BFF, Bethany. Nick, youngest of a dysfunctional family, barely attends school and bounces in and out of juvie. Nick and June are 17 and in love, and her generous heart and his artistic soul have them dreaming of a future together. But lately June's been hearing voices--and a psychotic break lands her in the hospital. Meantime Nick's stolen one car too many and faces serious prison time. Both know that running away is a horrible idea, but they're going to try anyhow. Anyone dreading a teenage Bonnie and Clyde or a melodramatic YA "problem novel" will be pleasantly surprised: They both make many bad choices, but, even burdened with mental illness and poverty, they also make choices that are good and wise and true. Spare, evocative prose captures the intimate details of life in a small Arkansas town with cleareyed affection, endearing vulnerability, and terrifying honesty; even the most minor characters are seen with sympathy and nuance. Stanley (Drowning Is Inevitable, 2015) doesn't cheat with a fairy-tale happy ending but hints at something maybe more precious: a hope-filled enduring. The book follows a white default.Not so much a "love story" as a story about love: romantic love but also love for friends, family, a place, and a dream. (Fiction. 12-18)

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February 1, 2019

Gr 7 Up-This is a love story between two well-intentioned teens who struggle not to let their specific challenges define them, or their relationship. June has long dealt with hallucinations and some trouble with perceiving reality. Fully immersed in the college application process, she stops sleeping and finds that the voices in her head are becoming harder to ignore. Her newish relationship with longtime pal Nick is part of what helps keep her grounded, even as he faces his own struggles related to poverty and crime. June and Nick idealistically hope that their love will help them overcome forces beyond their control, but soon learn that real-life problems require far more complex responses. A dual narrative, alternating between June and Nick's perspectives, allows for a fuller understanding of both characters. June's chapters reflect her at-times fragmented reality, while Nick's perceptions of her behavior help to illuminate what may be really going on. Stanley deals respectfully with the very real obstacles these two face, including the refusal to apply an easy out or happily-ever-after in this challenging situation. The inclusion of helpful adults, including family members and medical professionals, teach both the characters and readers more about June's eventual diagnosis and how she can learn to live with it. VERDICT A sincere, thoughtful romance well suited for those interested in better understanding some mental health issues, as well as fans of quiet works by Sarah Dessen and Nicola Yoon.-Ann Foster, Saskatoon Public Library, Sask.

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2019
Grades 8-11 Nick and June mean everything to each other, and they've created perfection inside an abandoned barn in their small community. Nick loves to paint, and June dreams of a future that includes college. But outside the barn, their lives are far from ideal. Nick's family life is in shambles and he's following his father's criminal footsteps in the carjacking biz. Meanwhile, June confesses to hearing voices, which have grown louder and more frequent. During her hospitalization, June is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and Nick is busted for pinching one car too many. In a bold move, they secretly head for Nick's uncle's off-the-grid house in the mountains. In this stirring, emotional story, June's schizophrenia creeps up on her, impacting her life long before it has a name. The characters' desperate need for everything to be all right anchors the narrative, becoming painfully clear when the simple word okay instantly changes everything. Give this to readers who want a story where loyalty is everything and mental illness is treated with unwavering love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)