Everything That Makes You

January 5, 2015
In this thought-provoking first novel, McStay tackles questions of fate, coincidence and the impact of experience in two parallel stories featuring Fiona, a teenager from Memphis. The first story shows how facial scars from a childhood accident have affected Fiona’s self-image, relationships, and the activities she pursues. The second story explores how things might have been different for Fiona if the accident never occurred. The intertwined plots, unfolding in alternating chapters, contrast Fiona’s encounters with first love (with different boys) and self-discovery as she overcomes various obstacles during high school and her first year of college. While there are some similarities between the two paths (particularly in Fiona’s relationships with her parents and brother), the decisions she makes and opportunities she seizes are sharply contrasted. It is up to readers to weigh the physical and emotional traumas and scars that both Fionas grapple with. Entertaining and intellectually stimulating, the novel invites discussion about how much of a person’s life is determined by events and whether some tendencies are inborn. Ages 13–up. Agent: Steven Chudney, Chudney Agency.

January 1, 2015
One girl, two lives: Debut novelist McStay explores the impact of a childhood accident.When Fiona was 5, an accident burned her face and left her scarred. Always self-conscious about her scars, Fiona won't perform the songs she writes or tell crush Trent how she feels. At least she has her brother, Ryan, and best friend, Lucy. She undergoes an operation that heals her scars-but Fiona's insecurities remain even after starting college and falling for handsome Jackson. In a parallel storyline that alternates with Fiona's chapter by chapter and month by month, Fi is physically unflawed, but there are cracks under the surface. She's a fierce lacrosse player, living for the dream of playing in college, even if it means barely having a relationship with her brother, Ryan, and pushing away Trent, her best friend, who wants to be more. But a horrible ankle injury takes away lacrosse, leaving Fi adrift until she falls in love with the sickly, optimistic Marcus. Readers accustomed to time-slip and parallel-universe fiction should control their expectations, as intersections between the storylines are fairly subtle. McStay plays out her "what if" scenario in two separate plots; as separate reads, Fiona's story is straightforward, while Fi's is more interesting yet less successfully executed. As an experiment, the premise may intrigue more than the product, but readers who enter it on its own terms should find it satisfying. (Fiction. 14-18)

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December 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-As a child, Fiona Doyle was in a horrible accident that left part of her face permanently scarred. Now in high school, she is an excellent student, has a family who loves her, enjoys talking to her best friend, Lucy, and has a crush on Trent McKinnon. In alternating chapters, readers meet Fi Doyle, the imaginary girl who escaped that horrible childhood accident. Now in high school, Fi is the best lacrosse player, has a family who loves her, and enjoys talking to her best friend, Trent McKinnon. In both versions of this story, Fiona and Fi successfully navigate through school, fall in love, go to college, and struggle with the conflict. As expected, Fi's life goes down a different path than Fiona's, but readers will see that theyhave much in common after all. McStay entertainingly weaves similar characters and circumstances throughout their worlds. It is interesting to see how each girl interacts with these people and reacts to her environment. The author consistently builds the plot without breaking the pace of the narrative. The story line flows from chapter to chapter even though there are two different points of view. The protagonists are believable and the language is appropriate. McStay's debut explores the theme of choices and how those choices become the framework for the person who makes them.-Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
What if the accident never happened and she wasn't covered in scars? That's the question Fiona Doyle struggles with. Then readers meet Fi, the answer to the "what if?." The alternating dual narrative is a glimpse at the other side, where the grass isn't always greener. (Or is it?) An emotional story of acceptance and loss, and learning to love who you are.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)