A Song to Take the World Apart

The transition from a child into a young adult is rarely easy; Romanoff’s debut addresses the depth and breadth of love, friendship, and choice, blending them with a touch of fantasy to underscore the struggles inherent in growing up and growing wiser. Lorelei, a high school sophomore, has been raised in a quiet Los Angeles home devoid of music, thanks to Oma, her grandmother. Even though Lorelei has older brothers and parents living under the same roof, they all seem to be perfect strangers orbiting Oma. When Lorelei’s desire to sing can no longer be contained, and tragedy descends on the home, her life veers out of her control. The introspective third-person narrative dwells in Lorelei’s psychological landscape: despite the headiness of a handsome senior taking notice of her and the terrifying joy of pressing boundaries and keeping secrets, Lorelei can’t escape her sense of isolation. While Romanoff’s writing is elegant and evocative, the story falls just short of inspiring a sense of wonder where Lorelei’s supernatural discoveries are concerned, instead circling moodily around the difficulties of maturing. Ages 12–up. Agent: Logan Garrison, Gernert Company. (Sept.)