In the wake of a bridge collapse, several Boston-area teens find themselves at a hospital to hope d mostly wait r word on their loved ones. Alexa and her brother, Jason, consider life without their parents. Scott regrets the way things ended with his girlfriend. Skyler tries to summon the strength of her older sister, Kate. And Morgan, already touched by death, reaches out to bring them all together. What results is a remarkable story that explores growing up through the lens of mortality, told through multiple points of view and featuring flashbacks that allow readers to gain insights into each character. Lawson is adept at gripping the reader while eschewing typical tropes of YA literature (e.g., romantic entanglements and social drama). Rather, the spotlight is on the relationships the teens have with loved ones, the relationships they begin with each other, and the insights gleaned from a harrowing experience. Young readers looking for a change of pace will be rewarded by this quiet yet powerful meditation on life and death.

In the wake of a bridge collapse in Boston, five teenagers from different backgrounds find themselves in a hospital waiting room. Through flashbacks, overlapping perspectives, a vividly described setting, and an effective use of dramatic irony, Lawson carefully develops each character's story and their accidental relationships with one another. Regardless of its neat ending, this debut novel is a worthwhile study of tragedy's wake.

Lawson-s empathetic, wrenching debut zeroes in on five teenagers from various demographics and family situations, who meet in the waiting room at Boston General Hospital, seeking news about whether their loved ones survived a bridge collapse. Chapters shift among Lawson-s complex and carefully drawn characters, offering distinct points of view and providing aching insight into the personal pain that colors their perspectives. For Alexa, a wealthy high achiever, the accident triggers guilt and rekindles an old grief; her brother, Jason-stoned, closeted, and miserable-suffers with guilt and grief of his own. Skyler, of Cambodian heritage, fears facing the world without her strong, dependable sister, and working-class Scott waits for information about the girl he loves. Meanwhile, Morgan deals with a private tragedy while the world focuses on the public catastrophe. Debut novelist Lawson, formerly of Gawker and current film critic at Vanity Fair, builds suspense as readers learn information the characters don-t know, while twists and revelations about the teenagers- motivations for coming to the hospital result in a gripping and emotionally invigorating story. Ages 12-up. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (Feb.)

POPGr 9 Up Relationships built out of a common tragedy are not uncommon, and this is the boat that teens Jason, and Alexa, Scott, and Skyler are in. They meet in the waiting room at Boston General Hospital after a terrible disaster, and are anxiously awaiting any news about their loved ones. After a storybook summer on the Cape, siblings Jason and Alexa are now more distant than ever. Scott is waiting to hear about his on-and-off girlfriend Aimee, because while their relationship is tumultuous, he is sure they have a future. The last thing Skyler needs in her life is for her sister, Kate, to be in trouble. Kate is Skyler's support system, especially lately. Skyler needs Kate's strength, but Skyler might have more strength than she realizes. Together along with another teen, Morgan, they meet and learn more about one another in a few hours than some people share in a lifetime. Hospitals are great equalizers, and in this novel, the waiting room is an ideal setting for flashbacks and world-building. The teens' individual stories are written well, and the city of Boston is almost another character. The protagonists are realistic, their actions are sympathetic and believable. The ending lacks closure but accurately represents the nature of relationships based on circumstance. VERDICT A solid debut, purchase and recommend to teens wanting a fast and enjoyable reading experience. Morgan Brickey, Arlington Public Library, TX