Downham, Jenny. Unbecoming. 384p. ebook available. Scholastic/David Fickling Bks. Feb. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545907170; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9780545907323.

Gr 9 Up –What kind of pain can love survive? How late is too late to learn the truth? When 17-year-old Katie’s estranged grandmother shows up on their doorstep, alone and suffering from dementia, Katie’s tightly wound mother is enraged. Instantly drawn to the confused but fascinating old woman, who seems to embody a spirit of personal freedom and love that the teen has been longing for, Katie starts recording pieces of her grandmother’s story, both to help her remember and to get to the bottom of what really happened between her mother and grandmother. It turns out all three women are harboring some pretty heavy secrets. Unveiling the narrative in bits and pieces and hopping through tim07e periods, Downham paints a moving picture of three generations of women who haven’t felt listened to or understood, who have felt confined by their choices, and who have suffered the consequences of trying to forge a new path. Katie’s plotline (she is coming to terms with her growing attraction to girls) is wrapped up a little too nicely, but the two older women’s stories, both past and present, are subtle and heartbreaking. The grandmother, whose slipping hold on her memories is portrayed with compassion and gentle humor, is especially well drawn. This would be a great title for teens and adults to read and discuss together. VERDICT A strong choice for thoughtful readers.–Beth McIntyre, Madison Public Library, WI

This review was published in the School Library Journal December 2015 issue