Everything Beautiful in the World

Set in the '80s, this smart, bold confessional addresses a volatile topic—a high school student's affair with a married teacher. High school junior Edna feels particularly vulnerable. She has irrational fears that she may be partially responsible for her mother's cancer and for the long-ago death of her six-year-old autistic brother. Her flirtations with art teacher Mr. Howland are a welcome distraction at first, but when their mutual infatuation spins out of control, leading to risky displays of affection and rendezvous, Edna wants out. Debut author Levchuk creates a distinctive and memorable voice for Edna—her hidden concerns and her secrets come to make emotional sense for readers as Edna begins to understand and move past them, while her wit and wry candor hint at a reserve of deep, even flinty optimism. Ages 14–up. (Nov.)