Austin Parker knows he will never see his eighteen birthday.  The leukemia he had for years now has slowly eaten away his once strong athletic build and he is tired of fighting. 

Really tired.

Yet, before he goes… Austin has made a list of people he wants to talk with and places he wants to see.  With the help of his best friend Kaylee and her car that she constantly changes the name of, they take a weekend to right wrongs, to speak truth, to try new things, and to come clean about true feelings… no matter what the cost.

One of the songs from Austins play list:

When I went to BEA in 2010 I had the opportunity to hand with the Class of 2011 Debut YA Authors.  Let’s just say…. it was a blast and I had so much fun chatting it up with these authors who’s books were going to be released in 2011.  What a high energy group!!!   I loaded up on their books, read many of them… and still have more to get to!

So when the buzz was starting about the Class of 2K12 I became excited all over again!  Here was a whole new group of authors coming into the scene, and one of those authors happened to be Megan Bostic with her book here, Never Eighteen.

I had such a good time reading this book.  How do I describe it’s impact on me?  Yes, it is sad.  BUT it is also powerful, smart, important, insightful, kind, sweet, brilliant, thought provoking and a page turner.

For a YA read I was impressed how this book makes you think of the what if’s in our lives… and the relationships we have that are either broken, damaged, or there are words that need to be said… but the time never seems right.  What does it take to motivate us into action?  How could lives change if we were the ones to make the steps toward repairing, if we were the ones to point out truths that no one has been brave enough to say out loud? 

Seriously – keep an eye on Megan Bostic…

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