100 Days

Gr 8 Up—Sophomores in high school, Agnes and Moira are a study in opposites. Agnes, tiny and delicate, has a terminal disease, while Moira, her best friend, is a towering pillar of strength and intimidation. She uses her assets to protect Agnes from the wrecking balls at school, aka fellow students. The countdown is on for Agnes. She doesn't know it, but as the story unfolds over 100 days, Agnes is dying. Before the teen dies, she and Moira rekindle a friendship with a boy named Boone. Four years earlier, the three misfits meshed well together until a fateful dodgeball tragedy. Agnes broke an arm when Moira fell on her after Boone tripped her. A horrified Moira refused to speak to Boone after the incident. Now in the spring of their sophomore year, Boone, a bear of a boy, could really use a friend. Dealing with the fallout of his abusive father's death and his mother's deep depression, Boone works hard keeping his life afloat. With her trademark spunk, Agnes helps bring Boone back into the fold, and both girls fall for Boone, but he only has eyes for Moira. Teens will empathize with the bucketloads of inner turmoil writhing within the three main characters, who have more than their fair share of challenges. Agnes, Moira, and Boone are likable, and readers will ache right along with the characters as they struggle with misunderstandings and preconceived notions. While the book is nearly 400 pages, the chapters are short, switching among the voices of the three characters.