Forever, Again

Gr 9 Up—When Lily Bennett enters a new school the summer before 11th grade, she attempts to keep her anxiety hidden. Though she is happy to be away from her ex-best friend, Sara, and her deadbeat father, she is burdened with recurring nightmares. Enter Cole Drepeau, a good-looking, charismatic classmate who befriends Lily on the first day. As they get closer, the teens discover an uncanny shared connection to a murder case that shocked the town back in 1987. Surreal events relating to the deaths of Amber and Ben, the two seniors at the center of the horrific past events, cause Lily to question her sanity. What she uncovers convinces her that life is more than what it appears to be. Told in the alternating voices of Lily and Amber, this page-turner goes beyond typical romantic banter. Filled with paranormal experiences, it delivers a plot twist that is sure to excite high school students. Touching on sensitive issues, such as eating disorders and domestic abuse, the novel stays grounded in reality while highlighting important topics. Though the entertaining 1980s references may go over some readers' heads and the action is occasionally contrived, this fast-paced romance-mystery is an engaging read.