Spirit Level

Gr 8 Up—Harriet (called Harry) has always been levelheaded. She is not bothered by the fact that she is donor-conceived, that her mother is single, or that her grandmother is not actually related. When her best friend/boyfriend moves away, Harry's world is shaken. She decides to reach out through the Donor Sibling Registry to see if she has half-siblings and whether her donor is willing to meet her. To her surprise, several people quickly respond. Two of them live close by in Seattle. Lucy is a bright, vivacious, 15-year-old dancer. Meredith is an emotionally disturbed runaway who is accompanied everywhere by her best friend Alex. It is easy to love Lucy, but Meredith is harder for Harry to understand. Harry and Alex are drawn to each other, complicating life with Meredith. As the three donor sisters learn about one another, secrets are revealed in this intricate, timely novel. Themes of homelessness, transgender sexuality, and familial roles are explored. At times it feels overwhelming; there are so many subplots that the real focus becomes lost. Once teens get past the bombardment of themes, they will connect with the multifaceted and flawed characters. The protagonists are not always likable but are well-crafted vehicles for the many messages.