Infinite in Between

Gr 7 Up—What are the four years spent in high school made up of? Teens tend to focus on the big moments—midterms and finals, homecoming and prom, first dates and first loves. But what about those unexpected battles and victories that truly shape and change them? Mackler follows five young adults from freshman orientation to senior graduation. Jake, Zoe, Whitney, Gregor, and Mia all have their own expectations for where they want to be at the end of high school. With shifting viewpoints among the five of them, readers get short but insightful glimpses at each of the protagonists. It can feel clunky to follow a character through high school in just one book, but Mackler does it deftly here with all five. This work even takes on several tough topics, including death, coming out, and addiction. Instead of feeling like a "very special episode," each situation is presented in a genuine and gentle way. This title is a slow burn: the author expertly illustrates how all moments, little or huge, have an impact on who we are. Readers will empathize with and cheer on Zoe, Whitney, Mia, Gregor, and Jake as they change, grow, and reevaluate who they are and who they want to be.