Final Draft

Gr 8 Up—Laila wants to be a writer more than anything. She loves science fiction and is writing her very first novel that she'll only show to her writing instructor. He encourages her to share it with her friends, but she is reluctant. When her instructor gets into an accident, her world is upended as the substitute, a famous author, becomes harshly critical of her writing. She claims her work lacks verve and suggests that Laila go out and experience life. Laila does things she would never normally do—goes to parties, gets a fake ID, and takes risks—all in the hopes of bringing more to her stories. The protagonist is half Ecuadorian and half French Canadian; she is also pansexual and plus sized. Many of the characters in the book also come from different backgrounds and sexual orientations. While the writing is very well done, the formatting can be strange sometimes when depicting the story that Laila has written (there is no spacing between the words). Redgate's engaging style draws readers in, and the main character will resonate with young people.