You, Me, and Our Heartstrings

You, Me, and Our Heartstrings

by Melissa See

Scholastic Press, 2022. 303 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Seventeen-year-olds Daisy, a talented violinist with cerebral palsy, and Noah, a great cellist with severe anxiety, plan to use the holiday concert to land a Julliard audition, but when they are chosen to play a duet, they worry their differences will sink their chances.

What on the surface appears to be a sweet love story is actually a compelling story of two artists who must deal with major obstacles to make the art they love so much. Daisy and Noah both deal with hard things. Daisy must face a world of ableism because of her cerebral palsy, and Noah must get help for his anxiety before it crushes him. This character driven story is fast paced, easy to read, but not easy to stop thinking about. Each chapter is either from Daisy’s or Noah’s perspective. I loved having multiple perspectives because it created a series of cliff hangers throughout the story that kept me reading until well into the night.

If you like You, Me, and Our Heartstrings, you might also like:

Sick Kids in Love

by Hannah Moskowitz

Entangled Teen, 2019. 317 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Isabel has one rule: no dating. She's got issues. She's got secrets. She's got rheumatoid arthritis. But then she meets another sick kid. He's got a chronic illness Isabel's never heard of, something she can't even pronounce. He understands what it means to be sick. He understands her more than her healthy friends. He understands her more than her own father who's a doctor. He's gorgeous, fun, and foul-mouthed. And totally into her.

 

Five Feet Apart

by Rachel Lippincot

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. 281 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Seventeen-year-olds Stella and Will, both suffering from cystic fibrosis, realize the only way to stay alive is to stay apart, but their love for each other is slowly pushing the boundaries of physical and emotional safety.

AG