She’s not so good at being present in the world without her phone, which she uses to help allay her fears surrounding Covid, distract herself from her mother’s perfectionism, and idly search for her sperm donor father. “Seventeen-year-old Harper Proulx is practiced at internet sleuthing, taking Instagram selfies that make her look adventurous and approachable, and interacting with her steadily growing social media following. Most characters are White Simone has a dark-skinned Israeli and French mother, and the cast is diverse in sexual orientation.Īn epic tale of life, love, and identity. Each chapter begins with excerpts from 19th-century letters and journal entries whose relevance becomes clear as the novel progresses, adding an extra, significant layer to an already rich narrative. Framed by Harper’s narrative voice, presented in what is often a whirlwind of nonstop thoughts, the story also deftly and empathetically engages head-on with anxiety. This gorgeous coming-of-age novel thoughtfully examines questions of identity, family, kindness, and a longing for connection. Harper, who is nursing a broken heart after a breakup, is both excited and terrified about what will become of her after this experience. The four eventually find their biological father, and they embark on a summer trip of self-discovery. A chance online comment leads her to half sibling Dario, and, as they become closer, they connect with two others who share half their DNA: Simone and Wyatt. She has always wondered about her anonymous sperm donor father and how his DNA may influence her. “Seventeen-year-old Harper lives under pressure to academically achieve, continuously engage her Instagram followers, and think about her future, all of which worsens her anxiety-which is already at an all-time high because of the pandemic. *Chicago Public Library Best Teen Fiction of the Year *Amazon Best YA Book of the Year Editor’s Pick

The story of us by deb caletti