★ 06/06/2022
Black 17-year-old Michelle Cooper, who was born of sexual assault, struggles with her self-worth in the lead-up to adulthood in Clarke’s emotionally layered debut. Michie wants nothing more than to study English literature at Brown University, but every college essay feels like a request to detail her life trauma; moreover, Michie isn’t sure her complicated relationship with her estranged mother, therapy sessions for children of sexual abuse victims, and her panic attacks make her a prime university candidate. Then she meets 18-year-old Black and Mexican Derek de la Rosa, who moved from San Francisco to Richmond, Va., following a family death. Immediately smitten, Derek enlists Michie’s help with Spanish to get closer, but her self-doubt constantly sabotages their deepening relationship. When Michie’s mother reaches out for the first time since her seventh birthday, Michie must confront her self-loathing and unaddressed feelings of abandonment to forge ahead toward the future she both wants and deserves. Clarke artfully explores weighty topics such as trauma, grief, and abandonment using pensive narration, and mirthful dialogue provides levity. Michie’s encouraging support systems, healthy relationship with therapy, and heart-wrenching journey toward self-acceptance depicts a story overflowing with kindness and healing. Ages 13–up. Agent: Peter Knapp, Park & Fine Literary. (July)
"[An] emotionally layered debut....Clarke artfully explores weighty topics such as trauma, grief, and abandonment using pensive narration, and mirthful dialogue provides levity. Michie’s encouraging support systems, healthy relationship with therapy, and heart-wrenching journey toward self-acceptance depicts a story overflowing with kindness and healing."—Publishers Weekly
"A moving reminder to love—and allow ourselves to be loved—without measure."—Daniel Aleman, author of Indivisible
"Lane Clarke's one-of-a-kind voice had me hooked from the very first page....This book is truly something special."—Elise Bryant, author of Happily Ever After
"Heartfelt and relatable, Love Times Infinity is a beautiful story about finding the courage to love ourselves and to let others do so as well. Readers will find a new favorite main character to root for in Michie."—Kristina Forest, author of Now That I've Found You
"One of the most compassionate first love stories I’ve ever read." —Christina Hammonds Reed, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Kids —Christina Hammonds Reed, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Kids
"Executed with wit, empathy and humor, Love Times Infinity holds your heart in its palm and gently squeezes it—ultimately reminding us about all the intersections and complexities of love. This sincere story about guilt, pain and identity does not steer away from the difficult making it an absolutely breathtaking debut. Love Times Infinity is a must read!"—Amber McBride, National Book Award finalist and author of Me (Moth)
"Clarke's effervescent debut has heart and she navigates Michie's story with grace, humor, and love. A fresh contemporary with a protagonist everyone can cheer for."—Louisa Onomé, author of Like Home
"Come for the sweet-as-sugar romance; stay for the gorgeous prose, nuanced characters, and a deeply satisfying read. Believe me: you want this charming, beautiful story to warm and fill your heart."—Ashley Woodfolk, author of Nothing Burns as Bright as You
★ 07/01/2022
Gr 7 Up—A strong debut combining emotional stakes, supportive friend relationships, and a love story. Michie, a high school junior in Richmond, VA, is still recovering from a breakdown the previous year. She lives with anxiety, caused in large part to the shame she feels as the byproduct of her mother's sexual assault. She finds comfort in her supportive grandmother, who is raising her, as well as among others in group therapy, and her fun-loving BFF, JoJo. Michie, an unabashed nerd, is striving to get into Brown University and finds escape through her favorite novels. Enter Derek de la Rosa, new in town and very hot. He's interested in Michie in a way no boy has been, which challenges her self-hatred and insecurity. Her long-estranged mother's sudden interest in reconnecting adds yet more complexity to her life. Michie is a charming and sympathetic protagonist who is easy to root for. Derek, who has his own family issues, is fun and kind, challenging her in good ways to believe in herself. Clarke writes with a light touch that uses humor and gentleness to balance more intense psychological parts of the story. The way she weaves the love story with friendship, family, and scholastic goals comes together in a satisfying conclusion. Michie is Black, Derek is Black and Mexican American, and JoJo is mixed race with an Iranian mother. VERDICT Sure to appeal to fans of Nicola Yoon, Sarah Dessen, and Elizabeth Acevedo, this is a kindhearted, empathetic story that also happens to be utterly swoon-worthy.—Ann Foster
2022-04-27
A Black teen born of sexual assault struggles to love herself.
Richmond, Virginia, high school junior Michelle is struggling to write college admissions and scholarship essays that ask her to define herself. She can’t help but fixate on the one aspect of her identity she keeps secret: At 15, her mom was raped, becoming pregnant with Michie. Despite assurances from her therapist, Grandma, best friend JoJo, and hot new basketball star Derek that she is good enough—not only worthy of love, but actually loved—Michie battles anxiety. She is convinced that if only her mom could fully embrace her, everything would be different and better. But when her mom reaches out after a decade of estrangement, Michie must decide if she is willing to see her, face her pain and fear head-on, and let go of all of the baggage from the past. Debut author Clarke delves into an intense, rarely explored subject with skill; touches of humor lighten the text. Michie’s grief, self-hatred, and feelings of not being enough are presented in ways that show readers the full facets of her emotions and allow them to empathize with and relate to what she’s going through. The inclusion of her mom’s perspective, while short, is well written and reveals her to be not Michie’s antagonist but a complicated person in her own right. JoJo has Persian ancestry, and Derek is Black and Mexican American.
A compelling mix of romance and raw emotion. (Fiction. 12-18)
