Author: Shane Peacock
Publisher: DCB Young Readers/Cormorant Books

It’s the summer before grade twelve, and sixteen-tear-old Noah Greene is in a relationship of a lifetime with his brilliant and book-smart girlfriend, Miranda Owens. But when Miranda overhears his private conversation with another girl, what he says destroys everything they’ve built, shattering Noah’s world.

Determined to make amends, Noah sets out to truly understand the harm his words have caused and maybe become worthy enough for Miranda in time for prom. Along the way, he’s been turning his journey into a manuscript called The Book of Us and wants to give it to Miranda to prove to her how far he’s come.

What did Noah say that upset Miranda so much? What will she say when he finally asks her out again? Has he been able to mend the harm he’s caused, or are some things beyond repair

The Book of Us is a short novel that speaks to the fairly traditional psychological aspects of teen dating in high school. The characters are quite relatable for the most part, except for the fact that their personal writing skills and understanding of literature, within the context of curriculum, seem far beyond their means.

The fact that this story is written as an absolutely true story, supposedly almost word for word at times, gives the impression that it may appear far-fetched. That being said, it does not take away from the fact that this is a very nice, casual, entertaining read for young readers. The plot is simple, and the author is effective in using chapter breaks that keep the reader wanting to read further. For eager readers, the novel can be read easily in one sitting and is quite enjoyable.

Shane Peacock’s use of page notes does a valid job of making the story seem real and true throughout. His continual use of literature references is both intriguing in terms of discovering other new authors for readers to explore, while also potentially making the characters seem “too” advanced for their age and maturity. All in all, although the ending is underwhelming, the novel is a success in terms of teen entertainment for a book of this genre.

– Nicholas Rafael