A review by missprint_
Infinite in Between by Carolyn Mackler
5.0
"Not necessarily the beginning and not really the end, either. It was the infinite in between, all those minuscule and major moments when they'd dipped in and out of each other's lives. That had been their journey and somehow, even though they hadn't realized it, they'd been on it together."
The five of them meet at high school orientation.
Gregor plays cello and he loves his family. His world feels far too small to be starting high school where older kids like his sister seem so much more together. He is hopelessly in love with Whitney but he has no idea how to tell her especially when his grand gestures manage to go awry. Getting Whitney to notice him is Gregor's biggest problem until a sudden tragedy changes everything.
Everyone saw the viral video of Zoe's actress mother screaming at her in a dressing room. She knows everyone sees her as a spoiled brat who is just like her mom. But that isn't the whole story. It isn't even close.
Jake knows he's gay. He knows it the same we he knows he's an artist and the same way he knows he can't play football anymore after what happened on the bus. The harder part is dealing with his crush on his best friend, Ted.
Whitney is pretty and popular. She seems to have it all. Except things at home are starting to unravel and there's a constant push and pull to balance expectations people have of who Whitney should be like--her white mother or her black father.
Even at orientation, Mia is an outsider. She doesn't have many friends or much of a family with her parents more interested in work than her. Mia is an observer and an expert at blending in. But before high school ends she'll have to figure out where she fits and how to speak up before it's too late.
Five teens. Four years. One journey that changes everything in Infinite in Between (2015) by Carolyn Mackler.
Infinite in Between is written in close third person perspective which shifts between Gregor, Zoe, Jake, Whitney, and Mia. The novel starts with their orientation the day before high school and follows all of them through four years to graduation day.
Despite the broad scope and large cast, Infinite in Between is fast-paced and populated with well-developed characters. While each character has their own journey--often without much overlap--all five of their stories intersect in interesting ways throughout the novel often in ways only apparent to the reader.
Infinite in Between is an inventive novel ideal for readers making their own way through the labyrinthine passages of high school as well as readers who appreciate overlapping narratives and stories reminiscent of Six Degrees of Separation. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: In Some Other World, Maybe by Shari Goldhagen, The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie Sue Hitchcock, One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, The List by Siobhan Vivian
*A copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration at BEA 2014*
The five of them meet at high school orientation.
Gregor plays cello and he loves his family. His world feels far too small to be starting high school where older kids like his sister seem so much more together. He is hopelessly in love with Whitney but he has no idea how to tell her especially when his grand gestures manage to go awry. Getting Whitney to notice him is Gregor's biggest problem until a sudden tragedy changes everything.
Everyone saw the viral video of Zoe's actress mother screaming at her in a dressing room. She knows everyone sees her as a spoiled brat who is just like her mom. But that isn't the whole story. It isn't even close.
Jake knows he's gay. He knows it the same we he knows he's an artist and the same way he knows he can't play football anymore after what happened on the bus. The harder part is dealing with his crush on his best friend, Ted.
Whitney is pretty and popular. She seems to have it all. Except things at home are starting to unravel and there's a constant push and pull to balance expectations people have of who Whitney should be like--her white mother or her black father.
Even at orientation, Mia is an outsider. She doesn't have many friends or much of a family with her parents more interested in work than her. Mia is an observer and an expert at blending in. But before high school ends she'll have to figure out where she fits and how to speak up before it's too late.
Five teens. Four years. One journey that changes everything in Infinite in Between (2015) by Carolyn Mackler.
Infinite in Between is written in close third person perspective which shifts between Gregor, Zoe, Jake, Whitney, and Mia. The novel starts with their orientation the day before high school and follows all of them through four years to graduation day.
Despite the broad scope and large cast, Infinite in Between is fast-paced and populated with well-developed characters. While each character has their own journey--often without much overlap--all five of their stories intersect in interesting ways throughout the novel often in ways only apparent to the reader.
Infinite in Between is an inventive novel ideal for readers making their own way through the labyrinthine passages of high school as well as readers who appreciate overlapping narratives and stories reminiscent of Six Degrees of Separation. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: In Some Other World, Maybe by Shari Goldhagen, The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie Sue Hitchcock, One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, The List by Siobhan Vivian
*A copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration at BEA 2014*