Fade into You

Gr 10 Up–A dark yet hopeful historical novel set in 1999 that explores love, friendship, and mental health. The novel is told in alternating perspectives between Bird and Jessa, both seniors in high school, who think the only thing they have in common is wanting to break up their two best friends. Both are dealing with challenges and can’t lose their best friends. Bird is searching for her missing father, hurting over her best friend’s eating disorder, and trying to understand her newfound bisexuality. Jessa, of Greek heritage, is a lesbian who is bullied at school and is navigating her sister’s unstabilized bipolar disorder. This is all against the backdrop of 1999, when fear surrounding the Columbine tragedy and the recent AIDS epidemic lived alongside homophobia and mental health stigma. Smith and Gellar have created a nuanced, authentic, and raw exploration of topics like consent, slut shaming, mental health, substance abuse, and homophobia. This novel balances these dark themes with hope for change in the new millennium. The historic setting still feels timely and has relatable mirrors to some of today’s culture and challenges. Readers may find it difficult at times to distinguish between the two perspectives.