Read Me Like a Book

March 21, 2016
British teenager Ash Walker is meandering through life. She isn’t terribly interested in school, hasn’t applied to
college, has a boyfriend she’s not excited about, and is watching her parents’ marriage collapse. Then a young, passionate teacher takes over Ash’s English class and makes her brain and heart come alive. Not only does Miss Murray see Ash’s hidden smarts, she also turns out to be gay, which helps Ash begin to realize that she is, too. Kessler (the Emily Windsnap series) wrote this novel, her first for teens, more than a decade ago and shelved it, in part because of a British law that forbid the promotion of homosexuality in schools. With the passage of time, the most eye-raising aspect is that in Miss Murray’s efforts to mentor Ash, she inadvertently encourages her crush. While the coming-out story line may be familiar, the idea that you have to know who you are in order to figure out where you want to go is a powerful one for readers examining their own identities. Ages 14–up. Agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Associates.

May 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Ashleigh is entering her sixth-form year, and her life is in chaos. There are fights at home, her best friend has grown distant, and there's a possibility that she might have a real boyfriend for the first time. The strangest thing of all is that she's beginning to care about school, and it's all thanks to her English teacher, Miss Murray. Kessler has written about how this, her first novel, sat in a drawer unpublished for 15 years due to UK government restrictions on publishing gay and lesbian content for children and young adults. And it shows. This book feels dated, despite a veneer of modern references and technology. The writing does not feel vital, even when Ashleigh is discovering her sexual identity and her obsession with her teacher. For young Anglophiles, this look into British teen life will be welcome, but for those not already versed in British culture, the differences are stark and difficult to parse, including the mechanics of secondary schooling, attitudes toward drinking, and important class signifiers.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2016
Life is messy, people are imperfect--but Ashleigh learns that love really is all you need in this bighearted story of honesty and acceptance. Parents who are fighting incessantly, a best friend whose path is diverging from her own, a boyfriend who wants their physical relationship to progress faster than she's comfortable with--these are just a few of the things Ash is wrestling with. As if that weren't enough, although usually an indifferent student, the white teen finds her new English A-level teacher, Miss Murray, inexplicably entrancing. A self-proclaimed "expert at skirting around anything that might resemble a genuine feeling," Ash tries to ignore her problems in the vain hope that they will somehow go away, but instead she finds that the only thing that vanishes is her closeness to the people she loves. Taking risks both large and small--and growing from them--is a recurring theme of this story, from Ash's shoplifting on a dare with a rebellious friend to coming out to her parents on her 18th birthday. The English setting (including frequent pub visits and colorful slang) adds a rich dimension, as do the well-rounded characters whose flaws make them all the more sympathetic. With an absorbing plot and believable dialogue, this novel demonstrates respect for teens' fears and desires, ending on a hopeful note that steers clear of unconvincing platitudes. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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May 15, 2016
Grades 9-12 From the best-selling author of the Emily Windsnap series comes an understated, contemporary coming-of-age story. British teenager Ashleigh Walker is in the midst of change. She's had a falling out with her best friend, the new guy she's dating isn't quite doing it for her, and her parents are getting a divorce. But the biggest change in Ash's life is the one that takes her completely by surprise: she develops feelings for her young English teacher. Miss Murray brings to the surface talents Ashleigh hasn't recognized in herself, prompting her to apply to university. It's refreshing to see depicted a student whose road ahead is so fuzzyshe could be bagging groceries next fall or studying literature. While the coming out plotline feels a bit familiar, what makes this book compelling is its rich characterizations, particularly Ash's parents, who grapple with their own attempts at finding love again. Far from just a story about a teen crushing on her teacher, this is about a teen discovering her sexuality and her own strength in the process.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
Sophomore Ashleigh is inspired by (and soon, infatuated with) her English teacher Miss Murray, who sparks Ashleigh's sexuality crisis but is nevertheless a bright point in a year fraught with boyfriend pressures, best friend troubles, a pregnancy scare, and divorcing parents. Well-drawn characters and a contemplative tone that suits the subject matter help offset the preponderance of teen angst tropes.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)