Just Call My Name

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of Counting By 7s, Holly Goldberg Sloan, crafts a powerful drama that follows up her debut young adult novel, I'll Be There.

Emily Bell has it all-or so she thinks. She's in love with a boy named Sam, and this summer is destined to be the best they've ever known. No one suspects that Sam's violent father, who blames the Bell family for his incarceration, is planning a jailbreak. Meanwhile, Sam and Emily's idyllic romance is under fire from a charismatic new girl in town, and Emily begins to question the loyalty of the person she thought she could trust most. But when true danger comes knocking, her only hope for survival may be from the most unexpected place.

Called "immensely satisfying, heartfelt, and lyrical" by SLJ, this riveting story of friends and enemies-and how those roles can shift in a matter of moments-is now available in paperback.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316122825
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/05/2016
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	357,707
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Holly Goldberg Sloan is the author of the New York Times bestselling Counting by 7s and the highly acclaimed novel I'll Be There, and has written and directed a number of successful family feature films. She was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California; the Netherlands; Istanbul; Washington, DC; and Oregon. The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband in Santa Monica, California.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Just Call My Name:
"Immensely satisfying, heartfelt, and lyrical.... A truly compelling novel.... Sloan succeeds in skillfully combining the tenderness of young love, various distinct voices, and fast-paced action."—School Library Journal

"Strong dialogue and genuine emotional concern...make this a heart-warming novel.... Definitely a book worth the read."—VOYA

"Lively, tender, and satisfying."—The Horn Book

"[Delivers] an ultimately hopeful message about how friendships and families can form. Sure to be savored by fans of the first installment."—Kirkus Reviews

"Destinies collide in Sloan's thrilling sequel to her heart-wrenching I'll Be There. The fast-paced plot, complex story lines, and compelling characters grab readers from the get-go."—Booklist

From the Publisher

* "[A] life-affirming exploration of the subtleties of love, compassion, and relationships....Like the song it was named for, this book is hard to get out of your head."

The Horn Book

"Sam and Riddle are wonderfully appealing characters that readers will root for....A highly suspenseful read with a dynamic, cinematic quality that keeps the pages turning to the satisfying conclusion."

Booklist

"Holly Goldberg Sloan crushed my heart, accelerated its beat, and then lit my chest aflame. I'll Be There reminds us that empathy is an extremely powerful force, and perhaps our most beautiful."

Matthew Quick

"Heartbreaking, suspenseful, life-affirming, magical--and yet unlike anything I've ever read."

Gayle Forman

"A fascinating glimpse of life at the very edge of society: thrilling, romantic, and so suspenseful I had to peek at the end. Sam and Riddle are two of the most compelling and original characters to come along in ages."

Natalie Standiford

"The fine but sturdy threads of connection in this story are woven into an intricate web of people, places, time, and love, holding Sam and Riddle's world together, as they do all of ours."

Sara Zarr

"Sloan creates an entire world here--inhabited by fascinating characters, overflowing with connection, hope, humor and affection. A poignant love story on many different levels."

Matt de la Pena

"A phenomenal hold-your-breath read. Sloan has created a heart-thumping adventure out of love, loyalty, brotherhood and tragedy and has given readers a touching, unforgettable journey."

A.S. King

* "Any reader who has ever questioned whether even the smallest gesture of kindness can make a difference will appreciate this book....This riveting story will keep readers interested and guessing until the end."

starred review SLJ

2014-05-19
Sam and Riddle are slowly adjusting to a newly stable environment, having found a home with the Bell family after narrowly escaping their murderous father's intents (I'll Be There, 2011).Though the boys are now separated from their father, this sequel explores the ongoing impact of the years of abuse. Twelve-year-old Riddle is largely illiterate, and 17-year-old Sam has had little formal schooling, leaving him uncertain about his future despite his intellect and musical talents. Fear of burdening their loved ones coupled with a strong desire to protect them makes the boys reluctant to share their concerns. Riddle hides his deep terror that his father will return, an event he believes is inevitable, while Sam conceals his anxieties about being labeled an academic failure. Consequently, miscommunications develop, most notably straining Sam's genuinely deep romantic connection with Emily Bell. Witnessing the unraveling of the strong emotional ties that were forged in the previous book is difficult. But when Sloan take something away, she replaces it, and several secondary characters who begin the story with less-than-admirable motivations are redeemed in the end, delivering an ultimately hopeful message about how friendships and families can form.Sure to be savored by fans of the first installment. (Fiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews

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