The Opposite of Love

Gr 8 Up—Rose and Chase are an unlikely pairing, until you compare their home lives. Rose is a wild child, at least according to her strict adoptive parents. She is determined to find her birth mother, no matter the cost or time it takes. Chase comes from an abusive home and fears that his anger will be just as out of control as his father's. Just as Rose and Chase start to trust and open up to each other, they are wrenched apart. Rose retreats from the world and Chase tries to move on. Then, a cryptic email from Rose sends Chase and their mutual friends on a race to find her before things get any worse. This third-person narration alternates between Rose's and Chase's perspectives. The time periods also shift between the present (when Rose sends her email) and the past. There are many themes running throughout the story, including teen pregnancy, truancy, drinking, smoking, and faith, all of which are handled with a gentle touch. The novel is for teens looking for a realistic story with a satisfying if not completely happy ending. Fans of John Green's Paper Towns (Dutton, 2008) will enjoy it.—Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL