"This delicate verse novel by Fussner (The Song of Us), enhanced by judiciously employed magical underpinnings in a vividly rendered setting, is a nuanced portrait of a tween stepping out of her sister’s shadow and coming into her own." — Publishers Weekly
"This poignant, emotional novel in verse explores a complicated sibling dynamic and the longterm effects of grief via the soft magic that transports Nina into memories and her relationship with her semi-absent, grieving parents. Nina's increasing independence, shifting family dynamic, and crush are sure to appeal to many in similar stages." — Booklist
"Tenderhearted and hopeful, 13 Ways to Say Goodbye was the book I didn't know I needed. The one for all of us who have ever had to tiptoe around a ghost we love. Fussner deserves a spot in every single middle school classroom." — Andrea Beatriz Arango, author of Newbery-Honor winning Iveliz Explains It All
"Poignant and wise, Fussner's verse captures the voice of sisterhood, the first stirring of the heart, and – above all – being twelve." — Olivia A. Cole, author of Dear Medusa
Praise for The Song of Us: "Two seventh grade Boston girls meet in poetry club, fall in love, fight, and find their way back to each other in this verse novel. Their personalities shine through their beautifully crafted poems, full of aches, worries, and joys. Thirteen-year-old love at its finest." — Kirkus Reviews
"Immediate-feeling verse traces painful self-discovery and heady first love in Fussner’s debut, a queer retelling of “Orpheus and Eurydice.” Snappy verse embodies the girls’ achingly real alternating voices while thoughtfully considering topics such as coming out, mental health, parental abuse, and peer pressure. Hand this yearning-tinged slice-of-life romance to fans of Ashley Herring Blake and K.A. Holt." — Publishers Weekly
"In this gorgeous tale, Fussner delivers what feels like…a song. Of us. Of anyone who has ever been in love. Or anyone transformed by it. An impressive debut!" — Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"A tender book about first crushes, peer pressure, and parental problems in middle school. Written in glorious verse, The Song of Us is an ode to love—love that defies expectations, overcomes disappointment, and transcends grief, love that springs in our hearts like song." — Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor-winning author of Red, White and Whole
“A stunning song of first love, heartache, and the freedom of knowing yourself. Eden and Olivia will linger in my heart.” — Lambda literary award winning author Rebecca Podos
2024-12-14
Feeling independent yet deeply alone, a girl uses her deceased sister’s journal to help her move forward.
Until three years ago, Nina’s family spent their summers in Paris, a delightful tradition that included happy memories and fun times with the ebullient Aunt Renee. But ever since her older sister Lily’s death in a bike accident, Nina’s parents have retreated into themselves, leaving Nina to try to find ways to ground herself. She hopes to find some peace with what happened by completing Lily’s “13 Before 13” list prior to her own upcoming 13th birthday. Lily kissed someone and learned to bake before she died, but other items on the list remain undone, and one—“Take a selfie with theMona Lisa”—requires her to be in Paris. Aunt Renee enrolls Nina, a white-presenting American girl, in art classes and arranges for her co-worker’s daughter Sylvie, who’s Black, to be Nina’s “nouvelle amie” and Métro guide. Nina finds her feelings for Sylvie blossoming into the possibility of more, and pursuing the tasks on Lily’s list provides a springboard for her growth. The verse format and scenes in which Nina relives moments when Lily was alive suit the depth of Nina’s feelings and her halting, uncertain progress through the aftereffects of Lily’s death. The Parisian setting is authentically developed, and the pitch-perfect ending brings the plot full circle and allows for gentle closure for a summer crush.
A moving, sensitive exploration of healing in the wake of loss.(Verse fiction. 10-14)
