Books for Teens
Simon & Schuster/Atheneum AUGUST 23, 2022
FOUR FOR THE ROAD
K. J. Reilly's FOUR FOR THE ROAD, pitched as THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER meets THE END OF THE F---ING WORLD, the dark comedy explores survivor's guilt, grief, revenge, and forgiveness, with a dash of romance, against the backdrop of four unlikely friends on a 16-hour road trip to Graceland, to Alex Borbolla at Atheneum, for publication in summer 2022, by Molly O'Neill at Root Literary (world).
Film/TV: Ali Lefkowitz & Ryan Wilson at Anonymous Content
Publishers Marketplace December 8, 2020
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION!
Four for the Road is a moving examination of the anger that accompanies grief and the earth-shattering reality of loss. For anyone who has ever lost someone, Four for the Road holds a mirror up to the jagged edges that are left behind and validates that being in pieces is okay.
Charlie Williams, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
WORDS WE DON'T SAY (Disney/Hyperion 2018)
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2019
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"In a debut filled with heart and wit, Reilly draws a memorable portrait of a teen struggling with big problems beyond his control...This novel traces with remarkable sensitivity how a vulnerable adolescent becomes less absorbed in his own suffering as he reaches out to others."
BOOKLIST
"Told in fractured vignettes that slowly converge to an emotional conclusion, Joel's story explores themes of death, mental illness, and the effects of trauma on ordinary people-all without settling on definitive answers for why good people must sometimes suffer. Every character feels flawed and real, as do their struggles to find hope amid the horrors in the world. Reilly's book offers readers a work of profound truth that will linger long after a reader finishes the final page."
NPR
"Joel Higgins's voice is just as strong as Holden [Caulfield]'s, but far more contemporary and far less problematic... It made me cry on two different occasions, definitely a mark of excellence."
KIRKUS
"A high-interest read for its exploration of complex topics without simple answers."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Many characters deal with profound grief and devastating loss, which is explored honestly and unflinchingly. Recommended for readers who enjoy thoughtful realistic novels that cover difficult topics."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Joel's voice has a grim, ironic humor that spins from the serious to the quotidian concerns of a sophomore in high school reeling from the aftermath of personal loss... With its spirit of ethical social commitment and its exploration of the what-ifs of being left behind after the death of your important person, this will have broad appeal for teen readers."