Signs of You

Gr 9 Up—It's been two years since Riley's mother died, and while it's not exactly getting easier to deal with, Riley's gotten so much support from Kate, Jay, and Noah—her mini- support group of friends who have also lost loved ones. When Riley thinks she sees her dead mother in the supermarket, she is convinced she's losing her mind. After Kate and Jay both freak out about seeing their dead relatives, Riley starts to suspect their visions may have something to do with the ancient Saint Ignatius cross their relations each wore. The cross is a relic found by Jay's deceased father, and it's the only lead they have. When Noah goes missing, the others realize he's gone to research the cross, and they look for him and information on the relic that has seemingly connected them to the deceased. This genre-straddling debut novel is a palatable blend of the supernatural, the spiritual, Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, and YA romance ingredients, with a strong, unique plot. The protagonist's voice feels authentic as she finally wades through the guilt and pain of losing her mother. The spiritual and historical elements are well balanced—not an afterthought and not overpowering this very human story of letting go and moving on.