Laila Piedra is as well-behaved as they come: her hobbies consist mainly of writing sci-fi stories and watching a cult TV show with her friends. Her creative writing teacher is nothing but supportive, and he encourages Laila to take pride in her work. When an accident puts him out of commission for the rest of Laila's senior year, however, Laila suddenly finds herself at the mercy of Nadiya Nazarenko, a Pulitzer Prize winner who is thoroughly unimpressed by her students. Laila is unexpectedly tasked with learning how to be present in her own life. That means taking a few risks and having a few adventures, but it also means exploring her sexuality ming to terms with not just who she's attracted to but with the fact that she has sexual feelings at all. Redgate (Noteworthy, 2017) offers up an intensely focused portrait of a girl who, through first love and first loss, begins to find the story she wants to tell. For many cautious teens, watching Laila come into her own will be a triumph.

From cult TV shows to epic book sagas, Brooklyn high schooler Laila is obsessed with science fiction. She's an aspiring author but faces unexpectedly harsh criticism from her new creative writing teacher. Laila seeks out new experiences to inspire her writing; it's a familiar trope, but halfFrench Canadian, half-Ecuadorian Laila's distinctive characterization--including nascent pansexuality--and densely loquacious, stylized narration set this teen-novelist story apart.

Gr 8 Up-Laila wants to be a writer more than anything. She loves science fiction and is writing her very first novel that she'll only show to her writing instructor. He encourages her to share it with her friends, but she is reluctant. When her instructor gets into an accident, her world is upended as the substitute, a famous author, becomes harshly critical of her writing. She claims her work lacks verve and suggests that Laila go out and experience life. Laila does things she would never normally dogoes to parties, gets a fake ID, and takes risksall in the hopes of bringing more to her stories. The protagonist is half Ecuadorian and half French Canadian; she is also pansexual and plus sized. Many of the characters in the book also come from different backgrounds and sexual orientations. While the writing is very well done, the formatting can be strange sometimes when depicting the story that Laila has written (there is no spacing between the words). Redgate's engaging style draws readers in, and the main character will resonate with young people. VERDICT A recommended purchase for YA shelves, especially where Redgate has fans. Kristin Joy Anderson, Bloomingdale Public Library, IL