THE ONE WE LEFT BEHIND

In this debut YA novel, a teenager in 1995 finds himself torn between his social status and his growing friendship with the class nerd.

Junior high is a new experience for 13-year-old Evan Roth in Columbus, Ohio. He’d been a popular athlete, but seventh grade overflows with tweens and teens from different elementary schools. Sadly, it looks as if he won’t make a good impression the first week, as he’s the assigned “lunch buddy” of the Cincinnati transfer student. William Nash has severe food allergies and must eat lunch in a classroom rather than the crowded cafeteria. Evan finds the situation alarming: “Lunch was one of the times when kids figured out who would be leaders, who would be followers, and who would be left with no friends at all.” But it turns out Evan and William have a lot in common, including their love of baseball. Being friends with William is an adjustment for Evan, as he and his fellow students learn how to use an “epi” in case the boy goes into anaphylactic shock. But William is worth it, and Evan enjoys hanging out with him. Yet Evan likes to be popular, too, which sometimes involves keeping his head down while others tease and openly mock William. Evan may have to choose—siding with insensitive bullies or a warm, funny, and generous guy. Each of Coven’s believable characters is chock-full of personality, as not all bullies are entirely apathetic and not every mother is as affectionate as Evan’s. William shows the most layers; he’s often unruffled when peers toss out insults (dubbing him Casper on account of his pale skin), but he’s devastated when convinced he’s a burden to his parents. Readers will learn a lot about allergies, especially in a chapterlong conversation on William’s medical problems and the shocking physical reactions he’s endured. Coven deftly taps into the teenage mind, as Evan and his male friends, when not mulling over girls or professional sports, play pranks and video games. This story serves lighthearted and profound moments in equal measure all the way to the unforgettable ending.

Strong characters drive an enthusiastic adolescent tale that ably tackles serious issues.