I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain

Walton’s (Anything Could Happen) brilliant novel-in-verse is an exploration of grief, coming of age, and the life-altering power of recognizing one’s self in literature. High-schooler Avery is navigating new romantic and sexual territory with his best friend (“Our bargain was that if we both aced Bio, we would finally have sex, for our first times each, with each other”). At home, his mother is an alcoholic who injured him in a drunk-driving accident, and he’s mourning his heartbroken grandfather. Inspired by Faulkner and a stack of works by famous poets (Sexton, Plath, and Rich, among others), which his teacher gives him to dig through over the summer, Avery tries his hand at writing in many forms: journaling, fiction, and free verse. With lyrical lines and very little introduction, Walton immediately drops readers into the caverns of Avery’s headspace and delivers a difficult, beautifully cadenced novel that examines painful aspects of love while offering moments of profound guidance: “Be honest about how you feel/ With the people you love/ Who love you/ Who are worth it.” Ages 12–up. [em]Agent: Peter Knapp, Park Literary & Media. (May) [/em]