There is so much emotional pain and growth in Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff. This novel, set in a
contemporary high school, is simultaneously full of astute introspection and
denial or avoidance. Places No One Knows is a powerful read by a
talented author.
The story is told in alternating voices
by Waverly Camdenmar and Marshall Holt. She is the seemingly perfect girl who
excels at academics and cross-country running, but she cannot sleep and at times seems barely in touch with reality. He is dealing
with a dysfunctional family by self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, hoping to feel less sensitive while also gaining a reputation as a loser.
Somehow, they find each other – sort of. Waverly's dreams lead them to meet at night; ignoring each other during the school day. Each shares secrets – places no one knows –
as they deal with the angst of being an older teenager – concerns about self-identity ("the gap between myself and the facade of myself must be growing exponentially"),
family, truth, manipulative friends, peer pressure – and more peer pressure ("if you can prove someone else is a disaster, you never have to let them see what's wrong with you."). Places
No One Knows has been called “achingly real” and is a very moving story with well-developed characters beyond Waverly and Marshall. On her website, Yovanoff says, "It's about boys and girls and ideas and feelings and the towering shower of sparks that happens when all those things collide."
We will certainly be booktalking this title
next Fall, particularly for fans of All the Bright Places or We Were Liars. Places No One Knows received starred reviews from Booklist,
Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.
