Sixteen Minutes

August 15, 2024
Three teens are drawn into a time-loop mystery, but only one person knows the whole truth of what's at stake. In Clawson, New York, "two hours south of nothin' and just north of nowhere," Nell, Cole, and Stevie B have been best friends forever. Oh sure, Nell and Cole are a couple, and Stevie B's sketchbook is filled with drawings of Nell, but they make the dynamic work. It takes just five days to upend this tight trio, however, when Charlotte appears at school one day. Cole seems enthralled, and Nell is unnerved: Who is this girl? Why is Cole suddenly elusive and withdrawn? And why is he meeting Charlotte at the quarry at night? Nell's not just jealous; she's genuinely worried about Cole. She enlists Stevie B to be the Watson to her Holmes, and that's when things go loopy. Charlotte's not just a new girl; she's from the future, and she's returned to enlist Cole for help. But is she being completely honest about Cole's role and the time continuum? Is Nell spiraling in her suspicion of Charlotte's intentions? As Nell peels back the layers of this mystery, she unearths greater stakes, not just for her relationships, but for the future--and the intensity of those stakes ratchets up with every thrilling page. There are so many questions readers can ask with each surprising twist, before the truth is revealed. Main characters present white. Fast-paced and packed with surprises. (author's note)(Science fiction. 12-18)

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August 19, 2024
Reilly (Four for the Road) dives into the multiverse, adolescent love, and grief in this upbeat time-travel tale. Having grown up together in the small town of Clawson, N.Y., teenagers Nell, Cole, and Stevie B have been each other’s lifelines, supporting one another through some of the worst events of their lives even as they constantly navigate the shifting boundaries of their own relationship as a trio. When a mysterious new girl named Charlotte, who hails from “everywhere,” arrives in Clawson, Charlotte imparts the girls with her impossible secret: she’s a time traveler from 2101, and she claims to be able to save Cole’s younger sister Finn from
certain death due to a childhood health condition. But Cole must return with Charlotte to the future to set things right. Together, the group must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice. The characters’ relationships feel lived-in, thanks in part to Reilly’s snappy, free-flowing dialogue. Though occasionally uneven pacing can sometimes dampen a scene’s emotional impact, it all culminates in a gratifying gut-punch ending. Main characters cue as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Molly O’Neill, Root Literary.

October 1, 2024
Grades 7-10 Longtime sweethearts Nell and Cole are stuck in their small town of Clawson, New York, haunted by its rural isolation. Cole's beloved little sister, Finn, suffers from a dangerous and little-understood lung condition; Nell's artistic bestie, Stevie B, completes their social circle. Nell and Cole know they'll probably never get out of Clawson, but Cole's little sister's dangerous disorder makes things precarious, regardless of their contentment with each other. Though she trusts Cole, the arrival of beautiful new girl Charlotte has captured his attention, and Nell is compelled to demystify his cagey behavior. What she and Stevie B uncover is beyond unexpected--time travel, the chance to stop a tragedy, and stakes so high they defy comprehension. Creative science, fervent emotions, and heart-pounding suspense will have readers holding their breath from one revelation to the next. Intense life-or-death moments and tender, quiet love create an engaging contrast, and Nell's difficult mental spirals are relatable. Sticking it out when things begin to go awry pays off for the teens at the center of this unputdownable, breathless tearjerker.

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November 2, 2024

Gr 9 Up-A science fiction novel about time travel and the interconnectedness of the universe. Nothing important ever happens in Clawson, NY. At least, that's what Nell Bannon believes. Until a new girl shows up at school one day and Cole, Nell's boyfriend, starts acting cagey. Nell and Stevie B, the last third in their trio of friends, slowly piece together the mystery of who this new girl is to Cole, and more importantly, when she came from. Reilly's prose is contemplative and lyrical. The explanations behind the time travel are standard for the genre, but they contrast beautifully with the poignant dialogue and Nell's expressive narration. Nell and her friends imagine a life bigger than what they've experienced in small-town Clawson, but their responsibilities to their families are keeping them from acting on their dreams. Nell's journey through the time portal proves how important she is to the future and gives her the courage to make plans for a life beyond Clawson. There are lots of twists in this story, and the pacing is well balanced. Characters are cued white. VERDICT A dreamy and mysterious tale about taking chances and traveling through time for the people you love, this is an excellent blend of a tense, high-stakes mystery and a relationship-driven, coming-of-age story.-Maria Martin

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