NONFICTION

This Is Really Happening

by Erin CHACK
240p. ebook available. Penguin/Razorbill. Apr. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780448493589. POP
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Gr 9 Up–Chack, a senior writer at BuzzFeed, pens a smart, fast-paced exploration of her later teen years in this collection of short personal stories. From first periods and loves to college and a cancer diagnosis at age 19, Chack chronicles her experiences with wit and honesty, presenting an unromanticized look at her illness and her own mortality. However, it is her passion for her work that shines through: "Don't Read the Comments" is a highlight for its succinct account of daily life at BuzzFeed, from compiling wacky spaghetti-themed lists to dealing with the unending line of trolls in her inbox. Chack's job is interesting, and, more important, so is she. Readers will laugh, cheer, and internally groan at relatable awkward moments as the author invokes nostalgia and excitement for young adulthood.
VERDICT Full of crossover YA/adult appeal, this is for fans of intelligent, sassy writers and books such as Sarah Andersen's Adulthood Is a Myth, Issa Rae's The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, or Maya Van Wagenen's Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek.
Reviewed by Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI , Apr 01, 2017

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