Moore, Lisa. Flannery. 272p. ebook available. House of Anansi/Groundwood. May 2016. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781554980765. 

Gr 9 Up –Sixteen-year-old Flannery Malone has a loving but flaky mother, a charming but slightly spoiled younger brother, and a lifelong love for bad boy Tyrone O’Rourke. Life isn’t easy for the teen. Her artist mother doesn’t earn enough money to buy Flannery’s biology book, her father doesn’t know she exists, and her best friend is obsessed with a new, abusive boyfriend. Flannery hopes things might take a turn for the better when she is paired with Tyrone in entrepreneurship class, and the duo plan to market a love potion. However, he not only fails to contribute to the class project but also sets Flannery up to take the blame for his shoplifting. The worst of Flannery’s woes occurs when she is attacked by classmates, who attempt to stuff a used condom in her mouth. This scene of graphic violence seems out of place with the tone of the book and may limit the audience to whom this otherwise tween-appropriate book could be recommended. Moore deftly integrates the action in the many subplots, while at the same time creating relatable, realistic characters in a crisply written, well-paced coming-of-age tale. Readers will find themselves identifying with and rooting for Flannery and her quirky cohorts. VERDICT An engaging story and strong purchase with some valuable lessons about love, friendship, and growing up.–Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT