NEW RELEASE
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (2010)
It's Christmas in New York and Lily's parents have delayed the festivities while they celebrate their anniversary in Fiji. Hoping to fill Lily's time and help her find a boyfriend (but mainly to give him some free time with his own boyfriend!), Lily's brother Langston devises the book of dares. Placing it in a bookstore next to Lily's favourite books, the book of dares invites the reader to join in. Teenager Dash happens upon the red moleskin notebook and rises to its challenge. He's on his own as he's told each of his divorced parents that he's spending the holiday with the other. From visits to Santa to toy-making, Lily and Dash journey across New York trading challenges, feelings and stories, all through the pages of the notebook. When Lily fails to deliver the book of dares, leaving behind only her boot, the journey seems to have come to an end, but Dash and Lily's story is far from over. Through a chance meeting they are brought back into each others' lives but are made to question whether their connection can hold up in the real world outside of the red notebook. Told through intersecting chapters by Dash and Lily this is an eruditely and wittily written novel with a really innovative plot centred on the book of dares. Although the ending leaves a lot open, the magic and charm of this story makes this a worthwhile read. (JC)
