The Liar’s Guide to the Night Sky

Hallie Jacob, 17, has just moved to Colorado with her parents to care for her ailing grandfather. Originally from Massachusetts and from a wealthier background than her cousins, she feels like an outsider around her extended family. She’s drawn to Jonah Ramirez, her cousin’s 19-year-old best friend, even if his smoking habit and dangerous reputation have set her parents against him. A family skiing trip gives the teens the opportunity to grow closer, but their connection is rapidly derailed when a treacherous mudslide traps Hallie, Jonah, and the rest of her cousins on a mountain. Together, they must find their way back to town, despite freezing weather conditions and scarce supplies. As ever, Shrum, author of Kissing Ezra Holtz (and Other Things I Did for Science), creates characters who are notable for their complex identities: Afro-Latino Jonah is a pansexual aromantic, while bisexual Hallie’s complicated relationship with her parents enables a deeper exploration of Jewish cultural norms. This clear-eyed examination of trust, sex, and family dynamics is enhanced by vivid, lucid prose and a thrilling plot. Ages 14–up. [em]Agent: Steven Salpeter, Curtis Brown. (Nov.) [/em]