Four Months Past Florence

Gr 8 Up–Written as a verse novel, this YA debut by an established poet tells the story of Millie Willard, a high school student from a small coastal town in South Carolina. Millie is the frustrated weather reporter for her school’s newspaper, dreaming of one day being a journalist who breaks real stories and makes a difference in the world. However, things keep getting in the way: she misses out on the coveted coeditor post; her impetuousness keeps landing her in trouble at school; and her best friend, newspaper astrologist Lola Sun, is distracted by a new romantic relationship with transgender sports reporter Todd. After Hurricane Florence batters her town, Millie overhears a confidential conversation between her mother and the deputy sheriff and uses this information to write an exposé. The article makes Millie a social media celebrity and gets the attention of her idol, newscaster Felicia Fitz, who wants to use the story to generate publicity for her station. Now, as Millie risks alienating her friends and family, she’s forced to consider whether she’s really making a difference, or just making a stir. This earnest novel raises timely questions about the intersection between journalism and activism and may lead readers to consider the ways they can effect change in their communities. It also includes interesting content about astrology, crystal healing, and vegan cookery, with these subjects underpinning the author’s use of imagery. However, at times the verse is overwritten and distracts from, rather than deepens, the story.