Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet

March 25, 2024
As the winner of small-town Lennon, Calif.’s decennial contest, Wilson Moss brings her deceased former best friend Annie LeBlanc back from the dead. But there’s a catch: those resurrected only have 30 days in the mortal realm before returning to their eternal rest. Wil struggles to reconcile buried hurt feelings regarding the abrupt end of their friendship pre-Annie’s death. As Wil endeavors to gain closure, romance blooms and secrets emerge surrounding the truth about Annie’s final days. So, when she discovers a loophole that might let Annie stay alive for good—and that the key is to restore the relationship she and Annie had with sardonic, acid-tongued Ryan Morton—Wil sets out in a race against the clock. Abundant pop culture references often overshadow emotional plot beats, and a lack of urgency despite the novel’s ticking clock premise—depicted via a countdown at the beginning of each chapter—results in a too-convenient conclusion. Nevertheless, British author Morris’s deft handling of the teens’ intertwining histories and the little mythologies that make up the language of adolescent friendships imbues this speculative rom-com with well-timed comedy and plenty of angst. Protagonists read as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Chloe Seager, Madeleine Milburn Literary.

April 1, 2024
Drama between friends gets messier when a girl is brought back from the dead. When 17-year-old Wilson Moss enters Welcome Back, the competition held in her hometown every decade that allows the winner to bring one person back from the dead, she never expects that she'll win, but that's exactly what happens. Wilson chooses Annie LeBlanc, her former best friend who died on her 18th birthday, to be resurrected. Complicating matters, Annie has only 30 days on Earth before she must return to the afterlife. Ryan, the third member of their formerly close-knit trio, is furious--she's still angry about the falling out between the three of them prior to Annie's death. For her part, Wilson is desperate to fix the trio's friendship--she's been incredibly lonely since their fight, and she thinks there might be a way to keep Annie alive for good. As the days to Annie's second death rapidly count down, Wilson must navigate a complicated web of past hurts and lies to bring both friends back in her life. The story is fresh and well executed, simultaneously feeling both perfectly convincing and truly bizarre. Wilson herself acknowledges that her obsession with reuniting her friends can come across as off-putting, truthfully mirroring the challenges of navigating the ebbs and flows of teenage friendships. Wilson's and Ryan's queerness is thoughtfully written, and the romantic relationships are tender and believable. Main characters are cued white. A sweet story that combines realistic relationships with an intriguing, fantastical premise. (Fiction. 14-18)

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April 15, 2024
Grades 10-12 Every 10 years, there's a Welcome Back contest and ceremony in Lennon, California. The person being ""welcomed back"" is someone who has died; the contest is to decide who gets to choose the Returned. Wilson chose her ex-best friend Annie, who dropped Wilson and their other friend Ryan, when she started attending an expensive private school. Now, Wilson has one month with Annie to prove to her town that Annie deserves to stay alive beyond that month. No one knows the secret to earning a second life, but Wilson is sure reuniting Annie and Ryan will fix things. Between past reminiscences of what things were like before Annie ghosted them, and present-day Wilson's attempts to heal her friend group, there may be hope--but there's also plenty of confusion. The continual countdown to Annie's return to the afterlife gives the story tangible stakes, though the rules of the Welcome Back could be covered a bit sooner. This is a clever, lightly magical title that might hit just right for teens who prefer a standalone novel.

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July 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-What if you could bring a loved one back to life, even if it was just temporary? Morris explores this question in a coming-of-age story that tackles life, love, loss, and friendship with a good bit of humor, too. In the small town of Lennon, CA, the Welcome Back lottery allows one person the chance to bring back someone from the afterlife for just 30 days. Wilson chooses her best friend, Annie, in hopes to make right their estranged relationship prior to Annie's tragic death. When Wil discovers a loophole that could allow Annie to stay for good, she devises a plan to mend the rift between Annie and their third BFF, Ryan. With the clock ticking, are these three friends prepared to confront the feelings of betrayal, loneliness, and deeper emotions of love and attraction that led to their separation? The novel is a charming, mostly realistic story with a supernatural twist. True fantasy fans may feel frustration with a lack of explanation behind worldbuilding; however, character development makes up for any unanswered questions. VERDICT This novel is both sweet and sad but will leave readers feeling hopeful.-Linsey Milillo

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