You in Five Acts

LaMarche (Like No Other) shifts among the perspectives of five talented seniors at a New York City arts high school, structuring their story in five “acts.” All five characters narrate in first person, while addressing the objects of their affections as “you.” Ballet students Joy and Diego care for each other, but can’t seem to move beyond being dance partners and friends. Even more complex is the love triangle involving actors Liv and Dave, who are starring in a play written and directed by Ethan, whose frustrated attempts to get together with Liv are complicating the production. A countdown makes it clear that this story is building toward tragedy as the teenagers hurtle toward graduation, yet readers may still be caught off guard by how abruptly the novel ends, with only a brief “finale” giving any sense of the aftermath of the life-changing event. Still, LaMarche develops her racially diverse cast of characters well over the book’s five acts, giving a strong sense of their ambitions, frustrations, and interlocking relationships that hover uncomfortably between friendship and love. Ages 12–up. Agent: Brettne Bloom, the Book Group. (Nov.)