cover image Give It Up

Give It Up

Stephanie Perry Moore. Lerner/Darby Creek, $9.99 trade paper (128p) ISBN 978-1-4677-6049-2

An anonymous list that calls out girls for having bad reputations—whether they are deserved or not—connects five girls in this first book in Moore’s Swoop List series, set in rural Georgia’s Jackson High. After Christmas break, 17-year-old Sanaa finds herself an outcast because her name is atop the “swoop list,” which labels her a slut. She soon crosses paths with the other students on the list, and the girls join forces. Moore pulls no punches when it comes to portraying teens facing harsh, perilous situations: her characters deal with rape, gangs, gun violence, abortion, attempted suicide, and more. A diverse cast, quick-moving chapters, and a hopeful tone will have readers invested. Four additional titles are available simultaneously. Ages 11–18. (Apr.)