The L.O.V.E. Club

Gr 9 Up–High school senior O has been alone since her once inseparable friend group, the L.O.V.E. Club, disintegrated when Elle disappeared and Liberty and Vera moved away. Now, three years later, O is shocked to find Liberty and Vera back at school. The friends have little time to reconcile their past, however. When they meet in their secret study room, they discover a video game called Morning Glory. With one click of the start button, they are transported into the game, which appears to have been created by their missing friend. The game is deadly, and while the girls all possess special abilities, the bonds they share may not be strong enough to sustain them until the end. The lushly described game explores each character’s identity and lived experiences, from O’s grief to Vera’s self-sacrifice to Liberty’s insecurities. Wen’s youthful voice and sensitive narration capture the characters’ transformative growth as they begin to understand themselves, their families, and each other in a new light. The result is a love letter to these three Chinese American teens, resilient and courageous in the face of generational trauma.