About the Book

Through the alternating voices of Hilly and Ivan, and drawing on the myths of Persephone and Narcissus, Koja explores the souls of two teenagers caught in a world where love takes them deeper than they ever dreamed they'd go.

Book Synopsis

Because all my life had been a chrysalis, with you, Ada and Marshall and our house; even though we did other things and saw other people, the summers at the lake, and all those homeschoolers' parties, it was still always just - us.

Hilly and her brother, Ivan, have been homeschooled by their parents. All their lives it has been just the two of them - Ivan and Hilly, brother and sister, pilot and copilot. Until Hilly breaks out of their cozy cocoon to work on the local high school literary magazine as an extracurricular activity. Ivan feels betrayed: it's no longer just the two of them. And when Hilly goes into a depression after the suicide of a friend she has made at the magazine, she drifts even further away from Ivan. Hilly's parents insist that she see a psychotherapist. Ivan steps in to help manage Hilly's recovery by taking her to and from her appointments but compounds the betrayal by establishing his own relationship with the manipulative therapist.

Through the alternating voices of Hilly and Ivan, and drawing on the myths of Persephone and Narcissus, Kathe Koja explores the souls of two teenagers caught in a world where love takes you deeper than you ever dreamed you'd go.

Review Quotes

"Intricate."--"VOYA""" "Koja has once again created a rich psychological drama whose characters will not be easily forgotten." --"The Horn Book""" "This harrowing, intense tale has a vividly drawn cast." --"Booklist""" "Well executed in its setup, in its foreboding aura, and in the feel of each person's voice." --"School Library Journal""" "Striking." --"Publishers Weekly"

"Intricate."--"VOYA""" "Koja has once again created a rich psychological drama whose characters will not be easily forgotten." --"The Horn Book""" "This harrowing, intense tale has a vividly drawn cast." --"Booklist""" "Well executed in its setup, in its foreboding aura, and in the feel of each person's voice." --"School Library Journal""" "Striking." --"Publishers Weekly"

"Intricate."--"VOYA""" "Koja has once again created a rich psychological drama whose characters will not be easily forgotten." --"The Horn Book""" "This harrowing, intense tale has a vividly drawn cast." --"Booklist""" "Well executed in its setup, in its foreboding aura, and in the feel of each person's voice." --"School Library Journal""" "Striking." --"Publishers Weekly"

"Intricate. The characters are well defined, and their relationship is quite involved." --"VOYA"

About the Author

KATHE KOJA is the author of several notable books for young adults, including Buddha Boy and The Blue Mirror, both ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She lives near Detroit, Michigan.