Kind of Sort of Fine by Spencer Hall - HIGH

Kind of Sort of Fine by Spencer Hall, 288 pages. Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon and Schuster), 2021. $19.

Language: R (79 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

After her public breakdown at the end of junior year, everyone is walking on eggshells around Hayley. She’s forced to lighten her schedule by taking TV production as an elective, and Lewis, another senior, is assigned as her partner. When Hayley overhears Lewis trying to get out of their partnership, she determines to do whatever it takes to prove that she isn’t her breakdown.

Hall has captured a rawness that invites every reader to empathize with his main characters. Though their situations are different, Hayley and Lewis both struggle with being self-conscious, as we all are all about our flaws. The truth is, we are not defined by one attribute or characteristic. We are complex people, and it is okay to be flawed. Furthermore, I like that there is a romantic subplot that sits in the background without taking over the story because the book isn’t about a romance -- it’s about who these seniors discover that they are as individuals. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, illegal activity, innuendo, and mentions of masturbation and sex.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen