The Last Boy and Girl in the World

The small riverside community of Aberdeen faces a grim future: the town is literally sinking, and predicted rains could put houses completely underwater. Government officials have mandated evacuation, but high school senior Keeley, unafraid to say or do just about anything, has no intention of leaving her best friend Morgan or her longtime crush Jesse. In the days that follow, Keeley and Jesse hatch schemes and pull pranks to raise their peers’ spirits, but some plans backfire and Keeley ends up hurting those she cares about most. As the deadline to leave town draws near, tensions and tempers flare, especially in Keeley’s household. In this multifaceted novel, Vivian (The List) focuses on the psychological responses to impending disaster while addressing universal themes of first love and betrayal. The book examines many forms of loss and illustrates how rebuilding can be even harder than seeing what is loved destroyed. Keeley is a realistically flawed heroine, and Vivian allows readers to feel intimately connected to the depth of her regret and her urgent need to reconnect with pieces of her past. Ages 14–up. [em]Agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (Apr.) [/em]