Signs of You
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4.8 • 8 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Ever since Riley Strout lost her mother two years ago, her survival has depended on her other family: the quirky kids she met in a grief support group at school. Jay, Kate, and Noah are the only people who understand her pain; each lost a loved one.
When Riley sees her dead mother shopping in a grocery store, she fears post-traumatic stress—until Jay and Kate report similar visions. Noah, having seen nothing, withdraws. Soon he disappears, and Riley fears the worst. But the frantic search for him unexpectedly draws Riley and the other two into a mystery surrounding a centuries-old relic and the clues it might offer about the afterlife. By reaching for the ones who are gone, Riley uncovers hidden truths about those she hasn’t yet lost.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Like our favorite YA books, Signs of You doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff of life. It’s the story of four friends bonded by their shared experience of gut-wrenching loss. But Emily France’s debut branches off in unexpected directions: ghosts, a powerful historical relic, a love triangle. Ultimately, what captured our hearts were the compassionate characters—and the soulful exploration of the connection between the living and the dead.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Four teenagers bond over grief and the possibility of finding something greater than themselves in France's compelling debut. Riley Strout, 16, belongs to the Back on Track club at her suburban Cleveland high school, reserved for kids who are floundering academically and personally. She and fellow club members and best friends Jay, Noah, and Kate have all lost close family members. Riley takes her mother's death especially hard because it followed a huge fight, after which she tweeted "Hate my mom." When Riley sees her dead mother in the grocery store, she is shocked; when Jay confesses that he saw his late father, too, the group knows something is up. It turns out that everyone except Noah has tried on a cross that once belonged to St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, who was known for his writings on spirits. France's transition from a story about teen sorrow to one focused on deciphering ancient symbols isn't always smooth, but her characters are sympathetic and believable, and her message about what keeps people moving forward after tragedy resonates deeply. Ages 14 up.
