Stewart and Ashley are as different as two people can be and remain on the spectrum of human personality. Stewart is gifted in the area of intelligence and observation. Ashley is not. Ashley is gifted in the area of fashion and popularity. Stewart is not. They don’t gel, mesh, or click. As a matter of fact, Stewart and Ashley can barely stand to be on the same planet.

This is a real problem, given that Stewart’s dad and Ashley’s mom have fallen in love and now expect everyone to be one big happy family. Stewart makes an effort in his own way, which Ashley doesn’t get, and Ashley sort-of makes an effort in her own way but in a language that Stewart does not speak. It’s one hot mess, until the new siblings are put to the real test and have to decide how much – if any – loyalty they have to one another.

In a society where over 50% of all marriages end in divorce, blended families are fairly common. In our world of young adult lit, We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen is a solid work of bibliotherapy that can help already-awkward teens navigate the weird waters of modern family drama. The alternating narrator style is strong in this novel, making its tension-filled content easily readable. We Are All Made of Molecules is a quick read well worth the investment of time and resources.

Author: Michelle Wilson

With 16 year of experience as a school librarian, Michelle has served students and teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She is a past President of Alabama School Library Association, has served as Region V Director for AASL, and currently chairs the Alabama Virtual Library Executive Council. A National Board Certified Teacher, adjunct professor for the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies, and graduate student pursuing a PhD in Instructional Leadership/Technology, she is always eager to discover and share the latest trends in school librarianship. Michelle is very passionate about her work as a school librarian at Helena High School in the Birmingham, Alabama area.

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