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Librarian’s Review of Publisher’s Advance Copy Date: November 18, 2015 Author: Benway, Robin Title: Emmy & Oliver Publisher: Harper Teen ISBN:

Publication Date: 2015

978-0-06-233059-8

Nonfiction:

Easy:

Pages: 340 Fiction: X

Price: $17.99

Genre/Dewey Classification: realistic fiction

Theme or Topic: friendship; families; family secrets; divorce; romance Grade Range: Grades 9-12 Quality Rating   X  

Purchase Rating Outstanding Above Average Average Below Average

Highly Recommended Recommended X Additional Selection Not Recommended

Comments/Evaluation: Kirkus Reviews June, 2015; School Library Journal March, 2015. Emmy, a high school senior, is both relieved and confused when her childhood best friend and former next door neighbor, Oliver, returns after ten years of living with his father, who kidnapped him at age seven. Oliver’s kidnapping affected the neighborhood and especially Emmy’s parents, who, as the parents of an only child, have been overprotective and worried since Emmy was in second grade. Though Emmy understands where their fears come from, she feels confined and, in fact, has never told her parents that she surfs regularly and hopes to attend a college where she can be on a surf team. Emmy has been especially affected by Oliver’s absence because just before the kidnapping she was given a note that said he liked her – so she’s always wondered if they would have become more than friends. When Oliver returns, everyone is thrown for a loop; his return is what everyone has been hoping for but no one realized how much adjusting would have to take place. Emmy and Oliver reconnect and quickly realize that they are attracted to each other, and also realize that hanging out with each other gives each of them a little more freedom, since their parents are friends. However, the feelings are deeper than just that; Emmy thinks “…all the sadness and loss and fresh starts binding us together until I got confused about where Oliver’s life stopped and mine started.” The book will keep readers interested, with its unusual story line and quick-to-blossom romance, but leaves a little to be desired when it comes to developing the story in a timeline that would make perfect sense. Of course, teen lives rarely make perfect sense, and so it’s possible – but maybe not probable - that a teen would wonder about a second grade crush for ten years. The writing is standard but the teen voices are a little too heavy and may become dated quickly. An attractive cover will get this book checked out for the present, though.

Annotation: Sheltered seventeen-year-old Emmy’s childhood best friend Oliver reappears after disappearing with his father ten years ago.

Prepared by: Laura Stiles, Librarian

Campus: Canyon Vista Middle School