Synopses & Reviews
On the first day of Lillians summer-before-college, she gets a message on her cell from her sort-of friend, Penny. Not only has Penny faked her own kidnapping, but Lil is the only one who figures it out. She knows that Pennys home life has been rough, and that her boyfriend may be abusive. Soon, Pennys family, the local police, and even the FBI are grilling Lil, and she decides to head out to Oregon, where Penny has mentioned an acquaintance. And who better to road-trip across the country with than Lils BFF, Josh. But heres the thing: Lil loves Josh. And Josh doesnt want to “ruin” their amazing friendship.
Josh has a car and his dads credit card. Lil has her cellphone and a hunch about where Penny is hiding. Theres something else she needs to find: Are she and Josh meant to be together?
Review
"This novel has well-developed characters and clear insight into relationships. . . . Perfect vacation reading." —VOYA "Readers in the mood for a vicarious summer fling will enjoy the ride." —BCCB "Halpern delivers a summer road-trip novel with dark undertones, suggestive of a John Hughes film in its humor, pathos, and keen eye for the teenage mindset." —Publishers Weekly "Halperns novel of self-exploration is thoughtfully executed and similar in tone to Morgan Matsons Amy & Rogers Epic Detour. Heavier scenes, including Pennys revelations of abuse, are well balanced with humor and entertaining road-trip experiences." —Booklist "The dialogue sounds true without being crude and repetitive, and readers will enjoy narrator Lillians sharp wit." —Kirkus Reviews Praise for Get Well Soon: A Kirkus Reviews Best YA Book of 2007 Young Adult Choices 2007 "In funny, easygoing prose, 16-year-old Anna writes letters while spending three difficult, involuntary weeks in a mental institution. . . . This is an appealingly comic cousin of Carolyn Macklers The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things." —Kirkus Reviews"Halpern creates a narrative that reflects the changes in Anna with each passing day that includes self-reflection and a good dose of humor. Readers will cheer for Anna as she gains confidence in herself, dares to rebel a little, and gets well as she goes back to her life." —VOYA Praise for Into the Wild Nerd Yonder: A 2008-2009 Indie Next Selection "Fans of everything geek will adore Jessies induction into the world of nerds, one that includes the band geek lunch table, Dungeons & Dragons, and a genuinely fun-filled weekend in a field immersed in a medieval role-playing game. Halperns story may not hold surprises, but readers arent hoping for any; besides, Jessies narration is the real draw." —The Horn Book "[The] narrative voice is unusually honest, and the at times bawdy dialogue is realistic and bitingly funny." —Kirkus Reviews"Halperns descriptions of high-school cliques, particularly the punk posers and the D&D fanatics, are hilarious and believable, and characters who seem to fit particular stereotypes suddenly show unexpected traits. The storys theme could easily become clichéd, but this novel is particularly strong in showing how teen friendships evolve and sometimes die away, and how adolescents redefine themselves." —School Library Journal
About the Author
Julie Halpern is the author of Get Well Soon and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder, as well as the picture book Toby and the Snowflakes. In addition to writing, Julie is a middle-school librarian. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, lived in Australia for six months, and created a couple of zines before she started writing books, and realized she was and always has been a writer. She is married to the artist Matthew Cordell, and they live outside Chicago with their daughter and gloriously large Siamese cat, Tobin.