The Art of Losing

December 1, 2018
After opening the door to a locked room at a drunken party and seeing something not meant for her to see, events are set in motion that change Harley's life--and those of her sister and boyfriend--forever.The next morning, Audrey, Harley's younger sister, is in a coma, fighting for her life. Harley's boyfriend, Mike, is responsible for the drunken driving accident that put her there. Harley is consumed by both guilt and rage but also immersed in the tedium of hospital life, waiting for any signs of improvement. Over the years she's witnessed Mike's drinking become more and more reckless, culminating in the betrayal that prompted her to leave the party without her sister by her side. In chapters that alternate between the present and scenes from the past, Harley explores her relationships with Audrey, Mike, and Rafael, the childhood friend she reconnects with after the accident. They bond through late-night cigarette breaks, an affinity for comics, and a shared understanding of tragedy. Rafael, Latinx, has also faced substance abuse issues, and his growing self-awareness and commitment to sobriety stand out in stark contrast to Mike's denial and insecurity. Driven by authentic and well-developed characters and relationships, this work presents a compelling exploration of responsibility and forgiveness. Harley and her family and boyfriend are assumed white.A relevant and engaging coming-of-age novel that highlights the accountability that comes with adulthood. (author's note/resources) (Fiction. 14-18)

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February 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-This debut novel opens with a punch to the gut: Harley's sister Audrey lies in a coma after a life-threatening car accident. The driver is Harley's drunk boyfriend. The accident occurs immediately after Harley finds the pair making out. What could easily read as over-the-top melodrama, in Mason's hands, reads as a moving exploration of addiction, relationships, and forgiveness. Harley's story unfolds within insets of memories that provide context: red flag moments with her often drunk and sometimes cruel boyfriend, and tender moments with Audrey that provide a voice for the comatose sister. As Harley struggles with absolving Audrey (and her own guilt) and severing ties with her alcoholic boyfriend, she rekindles a long-simmering romance with Raf, the boy next door. Raf also suffers from addiction; he turned to alcohol and drugs after losing his sister to leukemia. While it seems that a small handful of families suffer from such addiction and sadness, readers will forgive the small contrivances. Portrayed with affectionate insight, Harley's middle class, two-parent family navigates life's struggles the best they can, albeit imperfectly. No tidy ending is offered, yet Harley's story ends on a grounded, hopeful note. Mason's first novel portends a truly skillful writer and readers will look forward to her next book. VERDICT A strong choice for most YA shelves.-Laura Falli, McNeil High School, Austin, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 Seventeen-year-old Harley is devastated when, at an alcohol-fueled party, she discovers that her boyfriend, Mike, who has a serious drinking problem, has been making out with her younger sister Audrey. Feeling betrayed, Harley abandons her tipsy sister and flees. When Mike drunkenly attempts to drive Audrey home, he precipitates an accident from which he emerges unscathed, while Audrey winds up in a coma, leaving Harley riddled with guilt. In the accident's wake, Mike is remanded to rehab, and though he begs Harley for forgiveness, she refuses to grant it. In the meantime, she reconnects with her next-door neighbor Raf, a childhood friend, and the two soon develop tender feelings for each other; however, Raf, too, is a recovering alcohol and drug abuser who has done his own stint in rehab, and when he relapses, what is Harley to do? Mason's first novel, though low-key, is carefully crafted with its focus on characterization and use of extensive flashbacks to provide context. With its authentic treatment of addiction, it's an appealing cautionary tale with conviction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)