Sorry Not Sorry

by Jaime Reed

Overview

A compelling #ownvoices story about friendship, rivalry, and sacrifice, original for our Point line.

Janelle and Alyssa used to be friends.Best friends. They knew each other's deepest secrets and went through the hardest times together. But that was then.Now? Their status is somewhere between frenemies and full-on rivals. Janelle is all about making a difference in her community, while Alyssa reigns over the shallowest girls in school. Until the day Alyssa collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Suddenly, everyone knows about her declining health and race against time. And, in a stunning twist of fate, the only person who might be able to save Alyssa's life — is Janelle. But will the girls' bitter past get in the way of their futures? With a fresh, unforgettable voice, Jaime Reed spins a riveting and empowering story of female friendship and how the difficult choices we make — or don't make — can change our lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338149005
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/26/2019
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	264,763
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	730L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jaime Reed is the author of The Cambion Chronicles series and Keep Me in Mind. She studied art at Virginia Commonwealth University. She now lives in Virginia, where she works part-time as a line producer for a small independent film company. But mostly she writes and watches '80s movies. Learn more about her at jaimereedbooks.com.

Read an Excerpt

"If you're going to stare then get out!" Alyssa glared grisly murder at me from the bed."I'm not here to harass you. I come in peace. Look. I even brought balloons." I showed her the bright-yellow bunch in my hands.Alyssa scoffed, unimpressed. "Yeah, because Lord knows I need more flowers, balloons, and cards."She was right. Child birthday parties weren't this lit, even with a hired clown. Foil balloons crowded the ceiling. Teddy bears and fancy bouquets hogged all the free counter space. Looking at my meager offering, I said, "But . . . but they're all pink.""You know I hate pink.""I do know that. That's why I bought these." My smile widened.Her eyes narrowed into two razor slits.Inviting myself in, I scoped out the new digs. The room looked like a hotel suite, with cream-colored walls and dark wood accents. A flat-screen television was mounted on the wall across from the bed, and a chaise longue sat under the window. Then my gaze moved to the dreaded dialysis machine next to Alyssa's bed. Its omnipotent bulk would not go ignored. The robo-kidney demanded acknowledgment and a steady diet of unfiltered blood."What did I tell you about staring?" she asked."Sorry." My eyes lifted to the ceiling. "Does it hurt?""Yep. But once the swelling goes down, it should be fine."I set the balloons on her meal tray stand and planted my butt in the chair next to her. Crossing my legs, I asked, "So, how was your week?"She fought hard not to smile but failed. "Worst week ever.""How long are you gonna be stuck here?""Until the infection clears. Then I gotta go to a center across town for treatment three times a week.""Okay." I searched the room for a new topic. "So, about what I said in class the other day —""Don't apologize. You're not sorry. Don't pretend that you are just because I'm sitting in a hospital bed. I'm still me. You're still you, and we can't stand each other. Let's not break tradition, okay?"

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Keep Me in Mind:A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Books of 2016 selectionA New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2016 selection* "Reed delivers solid high school romance with a twist. It is refreshing to see two characters that are both realistic and stray from the starry-eyed, misunderstood-WASP-youth trope.... Examining the power of memory and shifting the perceptions of teenage love, this novel delivers a powerful journey of self-discovery and rebirth." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review"Reed develops her teen characters with style as well as substance; Ellia and Liam are given distinct, believable first-person voices in alternating chapters, and their friends vary between playfully goofy and helpfully pushy in realistic succession.... what Reed pulls off here is far more interesting than a clichéd love triangle: a scenario where a mature reflection on an immature first love makes plot sense and still leaves room for seeing a path forward." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Reed's superb dialogue highlights lost love and lost memories, and she deftly uses humor to keep the narrative well paced and refreshing. An effective open window into the lives of two teens as they struggle to discover who they are and how they love." — Booklist"The writing style is engaging and well-done, and the characters are memorable; young adults will be rooting for the interracial couple. This tearjerker will have emotions running — high and low." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2019

Gr 9 Up—Janelle and Alyssa were best friends in middle school. Now in high school, at best, they are frenemies. The story takes place after a major hurricane has damaged parts of the community. The girls are helping to collect donations for the storm victims, albeit in different ways. Alyssa comes up with catchy marketing campaigns, while Janelle is more subdued. Alyssa runs with a group called the "Active Beauties." They have turned a simple clean-up event at a local park into something chaotic. Alyssa suddenly collapses at the event from a medical condition only known to Janelle and one other friend. Janelle is possibly the only person that can help save Alyssa, but it will mean having to make a choice that will impact her relationships with her current bestie, her family, and Alyssa. In addition to coping with Alyssa's sudden illness, Janelle's life become more complex when her grandmother invites her crush to stay with them while his mother recovers in the hospital from injuries during the storm. Reed explores common teen issues such as friendships, interracial relationships, and tough decision-making. The main characters have a great deal of substance to them while the writing is witty and would appeal to most teens. The story is easily relatable and captivating. VERDICT A worthy addition to YA library shelves, especially after recent years' superstorms.—Michelle Kornberger, Havenview Middle School, Memphis

School Library Journal

★ 2018-10-15

Former best friends are forced to revisit the past after a life-or-death medical crisis.

At first glance, Janelle and Alyssa couldn't be more different. Janelle is African-American, and for generations her family has been trying to save the world, one way or another. For her part, Janelle is leading the grass-roots relief efforts after a hurricane devastated their community. Homecoming queen Alyssa, who is white, leads the vapid mean-girl posse and cares more about fashion and her doting Asian-American boyfriend than anything else. Like oil and water, Janelle and Alyssa clash about everything, but things weren't always this way; the girls used to be best friends. They seem destined to remain at odds, until one day Alyssa collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Soon it's revealed that Janelle is the one person who can save Alyssa's life. But will the former friends bury old wounds as the clock ticks on Alyssa's chance of recovery? Told in Janelle's infectious, unforgettable voice, this story about friendship, forgiveness, and race is timely and refreshing. Janelle is irresistible as a whip-smart, funny, woke teen who cares about her family, diverse group of friends, and community. A budding romance with her longtime crush, Mateo, who is Latinx, rounds out Janelle's story.

At once poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with stellar dialogue and a fast-paced narrative, this story reminds us of the beautiful but complicated nature of true friendships. (Fiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews