The book is about Louisa, looking for employment to help her family. She takes a job as a caretaker who's purpose is to entertain grumpy 35 year old Will Traynor, who after an accident is a quadriplegic. Little by little their relationship becomes closer, but Louisa finds out it would end soon.

I wouldn't say I typically read romance books, but this one is so original and a slow burn. They don't force the characters together, it's natural. I really enjoyed this book.

I would definitely recommend this book. Even if you aren't huge on romance, the story is incredible. There is also a movie! Which is always fun for after.

Grettel, 18

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Hazel Grace Lancaster is sixteen years old and slowly dying of thyroid cancer. Because of her circumstances and actions she has effectively isolated herself from her peers and spends a great deal of her time contemplating existence and its end. But then she meets with Augustus Waters who genuinely wants to be friends with her, and is extremely persistent. At first she is wary of investing herself in a relationship when she knows it will be short lived, but Augustus continues to tell her that he appreciates her for who she is and doesn't want to miss his chance to spend time with her.

I tend to find teenage romance novels thoroughly unconvincing. But The Fault In Our Stars didn't fall into any of the traps that the genre seems to be full of. Not only was there a plot, it was engaging and brilliantly resolved. The characters were endearing, and easy to relate to despite my having nearly nothing in common with them. Perhaps best of all, the book answered larger questions than just, "Will she go to prom with her crush?" and actually faced up to some painful ideas about life and how life is just slow death.

I recommend this to anyone who likes thinking and is able to take interesting perspectives and questions from the guise of a teenage romance novel without losing it. You really cannot judge this book by its cover. The Fault In Our Stars might make you cry, but it isn't a shameless tearjerker. It will, I guarantee you, make you think. Probably about death. But in a hopeful way.

Clara, 15

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This YA novel is about a young Black girl becoming terminally ill and coming of age. I picked it up a few weeks after listening to M. NourbeSe Philip in an episode of the Commonplace poetry podcast and heard her voice and poetry. Hearing her speak about Trinidad, my interest was piqued. Subsequently, I checked in on bookramble on YouTube and saw her bomb Bad Bunny tag, wherein she briefly discussed this book and mentioned that Trinidad played a part in it.

I was immediately enchanted by Audre, the main character, because I assumed that Audre was a shout out to Audre Lorde, and the novel later confirmed this suspicion of mine! Audre loves listening to rock by people of color and most other genres too, with a special affinity for Whitney Houston.

Moreover, the tenderness, healing, touching prose, fleshed out characters, magical realism, name dropping (namedropping Haruki Murakami, for example, and also referencing Biggie and James Baldwin in the same sentence), and immersion in a safe world for people of color and of strong women alongside sweet men made me feel warmth and security with myself.

I admire that this novel took a lovely anti-colonial stance, not shying away from denouncing mass incarceration and the endless discussion of white heteropatriarchs in places of education.

I would recommend this book to sensitive people of color of all ages. It is not too long, and worthwhile to read, if only for an excuse to bop to samba jazz, reggae, Aretha, Fishbone and many other creators this book introduced me to as I read it, and as I have continued to do since finishing it.

Mya, 15

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A young girl is adapting to her new life in Elsewhere. She meets new people and finds love and discovers what she values most in life.

Elsewhere is an interesting read. I liked the concept and the characters. It was an extremely easy read and probably intended for a younger teen audience. In the end though you feel good and happy for all the characters.

I would recommend this to younger teens (13 or 14 years old). I think the way the story is told and the characters would be ones that younger people could connect with.

If you like a little romance and in the end a feel good kind of book you may enjoy Elsewhere.

Rory, 17

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Suggest the Library purchase this book