Skyscraping

Book excerpt: A heartrending, bold novel in verse about family, identity, and forgiveness Mira is just beginning her senior year of high school when she discovers her father with his male lover. Her world–and everything she thought she knew about her family–is shattered instantly. Unable to comprehend the lies, betrayal, and secrets that–unbeknownst to Mira–have come to define and keep intact her family’s existence, Mira distances herself from her sister and closest friends as a means of coping. But her father’s sexual orientation isn’t all he's kept hidden. A shocking health scare brings to light his battle with HIV. As Mira struggles to make sense of the many fractures in her family's fabric and redefine her wavering sense of self, she must find a way to reconnect with her dad–while there is still time. Told in raw, exposed free verse, Skyscraping reminds us that there is no one way to be a family. Praise for SKYSCRAPING: A 2016 NCTE Children's Notable Verse Novel A Booklist Top 10 LGBTQ Book for Youth title A YALSA 2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults title A Booklist Essential LGBTQIA Book for Youth A Los Angeles Public Library's Best Book for Teens * "Exquisite free-verse poems...illuminating and deeply felt."—Booklist *STARRED* * "[An] exquisite coming-of-age novel in verse."—School Library Connection *STARRED* “This book should be popular with fans of Sarah Dessen and would be a worthy addition to most high school library collections.”—VOYA "Jensen's spare free-verse poems and accessible imagery realistically portray the fraught moments of adolescent identity formation with great empathy. Compelling snapshots of contemporary family drama and the AIDS epidemic as captured through a teen's eyes."—Kirkus Reviews "Written in straightforward, accessible free verse tinged with celestial metaphors, this story--set in a well-rendered 1993 NYC--is sincere, touching, and heartwrenching." —Horn Book "It left me speechless. Skyscraping is like a regular book with wings."—Becky Albertalli, author of National Book Award finalist Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda "In gorgeous poetic verse, Jensen captures the raw emotions and hard truths of a family dealing with forgiveness and love.... Your heart will soar and break and heal anew."—An Na, author of Printz Award winner and National Book Award finalist A Step from Heaven " Skyscraping is brilliant, sharp and bright. A stellar story. Jensen has written a powerful tale about love and loss, a story that will stick with readers long after they’ve reached the end. Her poetry is vivid, tangible, and visceral. She’s a rising star with a breathtaking debut. This is a novel made of star stuff."—Skila Brown, author of Caminar