As She Fades

Gr 10 Up—All her life, Vale has had consistency. She's had her boyfriend Crawford, their life together in a small town, and the promise of a bright future. On graduation night, their perfect future comes crashing down after a car accident, and Crawford is left in a coma. Vale spends her entire summer sitting in the hospital, waiting for the few hours a day when she's allowed to spend time with him. This is where she meets Slate Allen, her brother's frat brother who's a bit of a playboy. She's initially not interested in him, but begins to change her mind. The book suffers from some major flaws, including robotic writing (a continuous reference to women as "females" will throw off readers) and minimal characterization. Vale is stalwart and single-minded in her love for her boyfriend, but falls almost immediately for a guy who doesn't respect women. The other characters are just as one-dimensional and unengaging. Teens will feel cheated by a big twist midway through the novel, and may not have the motivation to continue reading after the big reveal.