Forget Me Not

January 16, 2017
Terry’s debut novel thoughtfully traces the fragile emotions of two seventh graders: Calliope, a girl painfully self-conscious about having Tourette syndrome, and Jinsong, a popular boy she meets in her new town. Calliope is tired of moving every time her mother “breaks up/ with one of her crazy boyfriends.” Having just settled in St. George, Utah, she’s glad to make friends with Jinsong, who lives in her apartment complex. But Jinsong begins distancing himself from Calliope when her uncontrollable impulses become more prominent and she becomes the target of cruel jokes at school. “Sometimes my tics/ are like gentle whispers,/ asking me to do things,/ to say things.... But other times they’re like a/ SHOUT!/ Jumping out so loud and strong/ I could never hope to/ stop them,” she explains. Meanwhile, Jinsong is torn between standing up for Calliope and preserving his status. Terry, who has Tourette syndrome herself, offers enormous insight into an often-misunderstood condition, writing in verse for Calliope’s chapters and prose for Jinsong’s. Her poetic explorations of Calliope’s anxiety and Jinsong’s moral struggles are honest and moving. Ages 10–13. Agent: Steven Chudney, Chudney Agency.

November 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-Terry's middle grade debut is about one girl's urgent search for true friendship and a sense of home. Constantly on the move after her father's death, Calliope June Snow (Calli) arrives in St. George, UT, with her lovelorn mother, a few suitcases, and an egg carton rock collection. Exhausted by her inability to fit in and tired of always being the new girl, Calli, who has Tourette syndrome (TS), seeks solace in a connection to her neighbor Jinsong, the student body president and an expert pitcher. The novel is a duet, with perspectives from both Calli and Jinsong. Written in a patchwork of prose poetry and free verse, Terry's narrative deftly represents the reality of TS in its fullness. It works to deconstruct common misconceptions, such as that those who have TS have a propensity to swear, and sheds light on the raw confusion and the frightening nature of a physical experience that is utterly unpredictable. However, Jinsong's efforts to defend and protect Calli feel somewhat truncated and predictable. Calli's final act of generosity toward Beatriz, one of her tormentors-offering her the gift of forgiveness, symbolized by a laminated poppy flower-appears both neat and unconvincing. Though the book has some flaws, the tale of a young woman with TS coming of age is an important literary perspective yet untold for a middle grade audience. VERDICT This exploration of Calli's neurological disorder and her struggle to find her place will stay in the hearts and minds of readers for a long time; a good addition for most collections.-Alpha DeLap, St. Thomas School, Medina, WA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

pidgegalaxy - This book is SO amazing. Every page is like a poem or a song. It’s so beautiful! I love books about people who are different races, orientations, with disabilities, etc. Calliope is a great protagonist. She is brave (like the poppy). She always can help others and knows when to do the right thing. She wishes she was different. I can relate to her personality, because I am kind and I help others, but I also feel bad about myself, and I’m not confident. If you read this book, you will definitely cry, laugh, and learn new things. Tourette’s syndrome is usually misjudged. People think people with Tourette’s are angry 24/7, curse 24/7, and hurt others physically and mentally. Calliope is the opposite of that. She is kind, funny, loving, and a great friend. Jingsong is a great sub-protagonist as well. He is caring, and he stands up for others. When others were teasing and bullying Calliope, he protected her and had a gut feeling that he needs to take action. I believe we all need to be like Jingsong,(of course, without the punching) and stand up for what is right. I definitely recommend this to everyone. The different character Arcs and perspectives are a great way to fill in details that the readers want to know more about. I love the verse writing so much for Calliope, and Jingsongs perspective are so detailed and many poem-esc vibes are in the text. I want this author to write a sequel or another book like this. Thank you so much!

February 1, 2017
Grades 5-8 In this sweet and sometimes sad story, readers follow middle-schoolers Calliope and Jin. Callie moves often, any time her mom gets out of a relationship and decides to start somewhere new. Jin's in student council and one of the popular boys at Callie's new school, as well as her new neighbor. She has Tourette's syndrome, exacerbating the anxiety and loneliness she feels, which is compounded by the fact that she never stays in one place long enough to make a friend. Jin is torn between maintaining his reputation and getting closer to Callie, whom he's immediately attracted to. Terry, who herself lives with Tourette's syndrome, movingly draws from her own experience as she describes Callie's experiences and behaviors. The narrative alternates between Callie's and Jin's perspectives, with Callie's chapters in affecting, varied poems and Jin's in plain prose and e-mails. This heartfelt, multivoice story with a meaningful message about friendship and acceptance is perfect for kids who appreciate realistic, character-driven stories, such as Rebecca Stead's Goodbye Stranger (2015).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)