My Life After Now

In the span of a week, high school junior Lucy Moore’s perfect life has become a disaster. She loves acting and her boyfriend, but loses both of them to a new girl at school. Then Lucy’s birth mother shows up, three years after breaking Lucy’s heart with a disappearing act, and wants to stay with Lucy and her two fathers. To alleviate the heartache and stress, Lucy spends a wild evening at a New York City club, which leads to a one-night stand with a musician; soon after, Lucy discovers she has contracted HIV. Debut author Verdi paints Lucy’s devastation and her tangled emotions with honesty and compassion. The reactions of those in Lucy’s life are believable as well, from a newfound love interest, who shies away from touching her, to the fierce devotion of her fathers, who are ready to fight when Lucy wants to give up. Information about living with HIV is peppered throughout, but Verdi’s novel never preaches, instead telling Lucy’s story with realism and hope. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. (Apr.)