Not Like Other Girls

Gr 10 Up–”I think I’m in trouble, but I think you can help me.” These are some of Maddie Price’s last words to her former friend Jo-Lynn Kirby before she disappears. The rest of Rochester may deem her a runaway, but it’s the last interaction with Maddie that Jo can’t get past. While it means digging into her past trauma and facing former friends, Jo is determined to get to the bottom of what happened to Maddie. The deeper she digs into Maddie’s disappearance, the more Jo questions what she knows and who she is really searching for. Is it Maddie or the girl she was before? Of course, there is more to the story than even Jo expected. This is a captivating novel about finding the truth and oneself: readers will enjoy trying to figure out what happened to Maddie along with Jo and figuring out who they can and who they shouldn’t trust. Adamo has a good grip on being a teenager in today’s world, making many situations relatable and realistic. This title may be a mystery, but it’s also very much about being a teenager. The topic of sexual assault does occur within the book, which can be triggering for some readers. Most of the cast cues white; there is LGBTQIA+ representation among supporting characters.