Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, by Joya Goffney

Quinn is an average teenage girl who struggles with trust. In order to make sense of the world, she makes lists. Bucket lists, kissing lists, all kinds of lists. When Quinn's journal of lists goes missing and she is blackmailed by an anonymous Instagram account, she must get out of her comfort zone and find the perpetrator before it is too late. Along the way, Quinn must face fears and learn to trust others, even when her situation seems hopeless.

I liked that Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, by Joya Goffney was honest about racial struggles, whether it be familial expectations or how the world views a black person. The author did not make Quinn's blackness the focus, but merely included it as part of her identity that she must learn to explore and accept. Goffney also highlights class struggles and the importance of family, biological or not. The writing style seemed more casual, and it was easy to feel exactly what Quinn felt throughout the novel. I love the aspect of lists that the author presents because it is something that anyone could relate to. The ideas presented in the book could resonate with any teen, regardless of class, race, or other identities.

Reviewed by AL, Grade 12

Glendale Central Library