The Fashion Committee will be out on May 24 and early feedback is starting to come in.
I am thrilled that the book received a starred (and smart, thoughtful) review from School Library Journal.
“Juby has created two compelling, multidimensional narrators whom readers will laugh with and cry for as they vie for the coveted prize. Charlie Dean is a master at turning the sow’s ear that life has dealt her into a unique silk purse, while John is so consumed by anger at his circumstances that he fails to appreciate the many blessings laid at his doorstep. The cleverly deceptive title, cover art, and opening pages belie the strength of the protagonists’ personalities as well as the tragic elements that have shaped their lives and define the story. VERDICT An excellent purchase for YA.”
–Cary Frostick, formerly at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA”
Thanks also to Kirkus for a lovely early review.
“Talented teens vie for a highly coveted fashion scholarship … Though seemingly antagonists, alternating narrators John and Charlie, both white, serve rather as dueling protagonists whose compelling struggles are revealed through the distinctively voiced diaries they must keep in the months leading up to the fashion show. Juby’s thoughtful bildungsroman excels in showcasing and normalizing those on society’s fringe—whether it be in her bold portrayal of differing socio-economic class issues or subtle examination of gender identity. Her tale gains great momentum from the grit and ingenuity Charlie, who believes the “most chic thing is self-sufficiency,” exhibits in tackling hurdles, resulting from being a child of drug abusers, alongside John, who’s also a child of largely absent parents and whose snarky bitterness makes an excellent foil to Charlie’s ebullience. Entertaining, smart, and inspiring.”
A double thanks to the ultra marvelous Meg Cabot for her kind blurb:
“Susan Juby is a joy. Her ability to blend humor with gut-wrenching emotion is one in a million. The Fashion Committee is another winner by one of my all time favorite authors.”
