Keep Her

Gr 9 Up—It's Maddie's last summer in Los Angeles before she heads to art school. She pays a lazy visit to a photography store, and a freak accident in the form of a broken water main has her cross paths with Aiden, a young creative who's traveled the world. The two begin a tender romance marred by distractions: Maddie's older brother is just getting out of prison, and although her family is willing to forgive him, Maddie herself oscillates between anger and confusion. Meanwhile, young father Aiden is torn between giving his newborn up for adoption and taking care of her on his own. Maddie and Aiden have each other to confide in, but as the summer winds down, the pair start to find themselves collapsing under the weight of their worlds. This is a slow-paced affair, similar in style to romances by Stephanie Perkins and Kody Keplinger. Krygier throws a plethora of plot elements into her tiny novel, but masterly pacing keeps it all afloat, and readers never feel jarred by changes in narrative focus. The couple's absorbing dynamic anchors the multifaceted story, but their relationship begins almost instantly, and so older teens might have difficulty accepting the intensity of their newfound feelings. The Los Angeles setting is memorable, and Angeleno audiences will know exactly where key scenes take place. Readers able to invest in the two leads will be enchanted by Krygier's vivid, immersive prose.