This Is Me Trying

Gr 10 Up–This novel tells the story of Beatriz and Santiago. The book begins with the two friends being estranged. It is senior year and Santiago has moved back to their small Vermont town for his last year of high school, and to help take care of his grandfather. In their freshman year, shortly after Santiago moved away, his best friend Bryce, who was also Beatriz’s boyfriend, died by suicide. Santiago returned briefly for the funeral but cut off his relationships with Beatriz and all their other friends. Now that he is back, he is determined to find a way to make amends and reconnect with Beatriz. Marie does an incredible job portraying grief and the many ways teens deal with loss and death. Told in dual points of view, the novel allows readers to see both Santiago’s and Beatriz’s perspectives. Being able to understand the thoughts of each main character gives the audience a clear understanding of how miscommunication can affect a friendship. Santiago and Beatriz deal with their own relationship throughout the story. Side characters are solidly developed and there is excellent LGBTQIA+ representation throughout, both of which give the novel a rich depth and make readers feel even more invested in the plot. Nothing feels contrived or forced; the lives of Santiago and Beatriz feel real and authentic.