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FIVE MINUTES MORE

Name: FIVE MINUTES MORE
Author: Darlene Ryan
ISBN: 978-1-55469-006-0

by Darlene Ryan ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2009

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The trauma of her father’s suicide sends D’Arcy into a physical and emotional tailspin. She learns that her father was diagnosed with ALS and drove his car off a bridge because of it. This revelation makes D’Arcy withdraw from her boyfriend and friends. At the same time, she begins to talk more with class geek Seth, whose later suicide attempt only fuels her depression. Told with an utter lack of focus, absence of personality and uninspired dialogue, this book is 12 problem novels crammed into one. It includes dalliances with homelessness, superficial explorations of grief and romance, family fighting and brief interludes with alcohol. All the secondary characters are flat stereotypes: the wise and worrying mother, the jock boyfriend and his jock friends, the evil stepsister. To add to the overall poor quality of the book, the author’s note reads, “ALS…also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, attacks nerve cells in the brain…There is no known cure. Suicide has been called a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” This implies that ALS is a temporary problem, not an incurable disease. (Fiction. YA)

Pub Date: April 1, 2009

ISBN: 978-1-55469-006-0

Page Count: 216

Publisher: Orca

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2009

Categories:

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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THAT'S NOT MY NAME

by Megan Lally ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 26, 2023

A gripping tribute to resilience.

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A girl with amnesia and a boy suspected of harming his girlfriend overcome adversity to find the answers they seek.

A 17-year-old girl wakes up in a ditch, disoriented and with no memory of who she is or what happened. Found by the Alton, Oregon, police, she is brought to the station. Soon after, Wayne Boone, a man claiming to be her father, shows up. He has photos of her on his phone and her high school ID card, with the name Mary Boone. Wayne convinces the police to release Mary into his custody. The more time Mary spends with Wayne, however, the weirder things get: He’s unaware of her food allergy, and as her memories start to return, they don’t conform with Wayne’s versions of her life. In the town of Washington City, across the Willamette River, Drew is in a bad place. His girlfriend, Lola, has disappeared, and Drew was the last person to see her. His adoptive dads and cousin are the only ones who support him; everyone else, including the sheriff, thinks he’s responsible for Lola’s disappearance. Intent on finding Lola, Drew finds help in an unlikely ally, Lola’s best friend, Autumn, who is the sheriff’s daughter. But will they find Lola in time? The two immersive storylines bring to life the trials and frustrations each main character faces in this debut, which is a thrilling delight right up to the unexpected and bittersweet conclusion. Most characters are cued white; one of Drew’s dads is Guatemalan.

A gripping tribute to resilience. (Thriller. 14-18)

Pub Date: Dec. 26, 2023

ISBN: 9781728270111

Page Count: 304

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023

Categories:

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT MYSTERY & THRILLER

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A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

by K.L. Walther ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2025

A lighthearted romance in which love comes to those who speak their minds and stick to their truths.

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A strong young woman discovers love where she least expects it.

At 17, Madeline Fisher-Michaels’ only love has been field hockey. With her focus on playing in college, boys have never been a priority. But after she agrees to be a bridesmaid in her brother Austin’s wedding to his fiancée, Katie, everything changes. She allows Katie—whom she doesn’t like but hopes to bond with—and the other bridesmaids to be her matchmakers. Mads navigates complicated, changing feelings toward longtime best friend Connor McCallister and classmate Marco Álvarez, whom she banters and bickers with. With the support of her dads, Mads must work through shifting relationships with family, boys, and even herself. Mads proves to be a strong protagonist: She often speaks her mind and maintains clear boundaries throughout the novel, which is refreshing. She communicates well with her family and serves as an inspirational role model for young women navigating relationships. The complexity of Katie’s characterization is another highlight; her depth and growth balance the lack of substance in the portrayals of other supporting characters. Readers looking for drama and intrigue may be disappointed, but Walther’s strong young women characters truly shine in this quietly entertaining, character-driven tale. Marco is cued Latine in the otherwise largely white cast.

A lighthearted romance in which love comes to those who speak their minds and stick to their truths. (Romance. 14-18)