Her Name in the Sky

Gr 9 Up–It’s the start of 2012 in Baton Rouge, where high school senior Hannah Eaden cherishes her time with the Six-Pack, her tight-knit group of friends with whom she spends practically every waking minute. But the group of three boys and three girls might not be as close as they seem. As their name implies, the Six-Pack’s social life revolves around drinking, as well as lighthearted teasing of one another; their relationships are mostly superficial. So when controversy arrives in the form of Hannah’s secret relationship with another girl in the group, Baker, the Six-Pack easily splinters. Hannah struggles to make sense of her feelings for Baker, particularly in light of her Catholic upbringing and schooling. As a result, she often lashes out at those she loves, which further complicates her relationships. Quindlen is a master at portraying the teen experience. The setting is vivid and atmospheric, the dialogue is genuine, and the characters are believable teenagers full of paradoxical traits: thoughtful and impetuous, determined and uncertain, kind and cruel. Even the adults (parents and teachers) are fully drawn and multidimensional. Quindlen originally self-published this book in 2014. This version includes an epilogue, which takes place in 2026 and appears to have been either updated or newly added. All main characters are cued white, except for Baker, who has Lebanese heritage.