Sorry Not Sorry 12+

About this book

With humor and heart, and a fresh, unforgettable voice, acclaimed author Jaime Reed explores the power and complexity of lifelong friendships — and the sacrifices we make along the way.

Janelle and Alyssa used to be BFFs — but not anymore. Alyssa became leader of the shallowest girls in school while Janelle got involved in activism with new, true friends.

But, suddenly, Alyssa's diabetes becomes the talk of the school. It's turned life-threatening; without a kidney transplant, her chances are not good. Despite reservations, Janelle gets tested and finds that she's a rare, perfect match with Alyssa for a transplant. But organ donations aren't very common in her community, and she starts to feel pushback. When feuds and accusations push the girls further apart, Janelle doesn't know what to do. Will the match bring the girls back together, or drive them apart for good?

 

Reviews

Praise for Keep Me in Mind:

A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Books of 2016 selection

A 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