In the future, The Seven Stages War has destroyed most of the planet. Only small areas have been revitalized, and it is all still in the works. To make sure that the future of the planet is in good hands, the government has set up The Testing. The Testing is these students’ one chance at a good education and career. Otherwise, they would be stuck in their colonies around the country, never to amount to much.

     When Cia is chosen as a candidate for The Testing, one of the first students to be chosen from her colony in a decade, she is ecstatic, excited to become a future leader of the United Commonwealth, just like her father. However, her father gives her some advice as she leaves, and it’s not all good. There seems to be a darker side of The Testing, plus the fact that all Testing candidates are never heard from again.

     Cia starts off to the capital city, trusting only one person – her friend from her colony, Tomas. As she and Tomas start to endure the horrors of The Testing and the candidates’ numbers start to dwindle, Cia soon starts to wonder if she can truly trust Tomas and her newly found friends or if she needs to leave them behind to survive.

     The Testing is a thrilling book, full of suspense, and perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent. Cia will quickly become one of your favorite characters, and you will watch and try to help guide her along her path. The Testing is a great story about love, adventure, and trusting yourself.

review by Emma Shacochis

Frederica “Freddy” Riley feels like she’s lucky. Her girlfriend, Laura Dean, is the girl of her dreams on paper: confident, popular, and beautiful. The only issue is that, almost every time a holiday rolls around, Laura finds a reason for the two of them to break up.

Frustrated by her devotion to Laura’s lies and infidelities, Freddy seeks help in the from emails to Anna Vice, an advice columnist; her group of best friends, none of whom are particularly keen on Laura themselves; and the Seek-Her, a fortune teller whose verdict on the situation is that Freddy must be the one to break up with Laura Dean. As she’s drawn in again and again by Laura’s charm, Freddy begins to feel more and more distant from her loved ones, her best friend Doodle (whose struggles she’s oblivious to), and her sense of self.

As a graphic novel, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me features two elements that make the medium so enamoring: easy-to-read, naturalistic dialogue, and gorgeous illustrations. Mariko Tamaki has created a cast of characters that you’re allowed to see both sides of: like Laura Dean’s understandable draw and her dismissive abruptness, or Freddy’s happiness when she feels in love and the ways that her romantic relationship hurts the people who care about her. The dialogue between the high school-age characters flows well, without falling into the all-too-easy trap of stereotypes or buzzwords. The majority of the main characters fall on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, making the story less of a coming-out one and more about the difficulties that come with feeling “othered” by your identity. Among the dive into how abuse in same-sex relationships can be easier to overlook, Tamaki also addresses the frequent dismissal of those who don’t “come out right,” and how parental support plays such a large role in the comfort LGBTQ youth have in their own identities.

Rosemary Valero-O’Connell’s illustrations elevate the story further, as she adds beautiful shades of light pink among the typical black and white illustrations found in graphic novels. The characters are expressive in their joy and sadness, but Valero-O’Connell is also skilled at creating expressions that are hiding emotions, as Doodle draws away from Freddy or Freddy tries to play off her irritation at Laura. The quirky restaurants and stores that pepper the story’s setting in Berkeley, California (such as the organic restaurant Freddy works at, where all of the dishes are named from famous lesbians) all sport a unique, fun, and above all authentic charm. Freddy’s habit of sewing stuffed animal-hybrids is also made clear by the undeniable adorable mashups Valero-O’Connell fills her room with (a half-mermaid, half-Santa is a key player in one emotional scene).

For a story that doesn’t shy away from the angst and pain of unhealthy teenage relationships, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me doesn’t wallow in pain. Instead, it builds to an ending that will leave readers with a sense of catharsis – and the message that no one is defined by being an “ex-” of someone else.

compiled by Emma Shacochis

Spend your next two weeks online – with the library! These events, while no longer in person, are still being offered to provide Fairfax County teens with plenty of fun.

Cozy Crafts to Go: August 11-21, pick up at Great Falls Library

Grab one of three kits with instructions from Great Falls, and get crafty in your own home! Among the activities offered are pom-pom trees, magazine strip art, and a Harry Potter-style origami Sorting Hat.

Summer Photography Club – Mission: Places and Travel, August 11-21

Enter your best travel photos for FCPL’s slideshow! Submissions are accepted until August 21st, and the slideshow will be posted on the library’s YouTube channel at the end of the month.

Online Yoga, August 12 & 19, 10-11am

Begin your day with FCPL’s virtual yoga class, for teens and older! Register online to receive the Zoom code.

*Teen Advisory Board Meeting, August 13, 7-8pm*

Reston Regional’s next TAB meeting will be held this Thursday evening! Come discuss your summer reading and upcoming school year with us. Register online to receive the Zoom code.

Summer Writing Workshop, August 13 & 20, 3:30-4:30pm

Teen (aged 12-14) can share and get feedback on their writing through this online workshop hosted by McLean High School upperclassmen, as well as learn about opportunities to publish pieces on McLean’s The Highlander site. Register online to receive the Zoom code.

Teen Otaku Club, August 11, 4-5pm

Discuss your favorite manga or anime and participate in an activity with Pohick Regional’s Teen Otaku Club. Register online to receive the Zoom code.

Herndon Book Club, August 18, 6:30-7:30pm

Herndon’s Teen Book Club will be discussing the historical drama Between Shades of Gray at their next meeting. Register online to receive the Zoom code.

Superfight, August 21, 2-3pm

If you’re a fan of absurd mash-ups and playing “who would win in a fight,” join FCPL’s online Superfight tournament! Register online to receive the Zoom code.

You can register for all of these programs and more here.