best book i read in august- emery

Perfect Chemistry- Simone Elkeles

Ho-ly crap. I have been dying to blab to someone about this book because I couldn't put it down. After hearing great thing, the bar was pretty high, but Perfect Chemistry cleared the bar and then some.

In the world of high school, Brittany Ellis is queen- the girls want to be her and the guys want to date her. She's easy to envy, since no one knows the truth about her home life. Her parents are completely dysfunctional, making Brittany is the de facto caretaker for her mentally and physically disabled older sister. Alex Fuentes is a smart-mouthed member of the Latino Blood gang with a few secrets of his own- and none are what you might think. When Brittany and Alex are paired up in chemistry lab, they butt heads right away, each repulsed by the others' lifestyle. But soon they realize they're both hiding behind carefully cultivated exteriors, and that's where Elkeles lives up to her title. Perfect chemistry.

This book grazes two particularly touchy subjects- mental disability and gang violence- with unbelievable grace. Better yet, the dual narration is divine. You can actually hear the two characters voices, and they are so distinct. Elkeles narrates for a teenage boy fearlessly, crafting realistic conversations. She is also fearless in building her characters' sexual tension. Lemme tell ya...there is some steamy stuff going on in that book. My first thought was: I MUST recommend this to my critique group. My second thought: No, NOT HAYLEY. Not until she's 18.

As far as writers are concerned, there's a lot to be learned from this book. How to have "issues" in your book without writing an "issue book," for one. How to use dual narration to your advantage, as a way to showcase two completely different voices with unique perspectives. How to put an incredibly fresh spin on the Romeo and Juliet premise. Just...read it. But if you're under 18....don't tell your parents I told you to.