While we're young

Grace, her brother James, and her best friends Isa and Everett used to be inseparable. Until Isa and Everett had a messy breakup in ninth grade and the friendships fractured. Now, Grace and Everett are secretly friends who like each other, and Isa and James are "hanging out." In the final month of their senior year, Grace orchestrates a "day off" in Philadelphia for the quartet. But James is no fool, and he can sense his sister is up to something. What follows is a breathless romp through the city, complete with a principal who may or may not be on the hunt. Walther's homage to Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a delightful whirlwind. Filled with romance and shenanigans in spades, it effortlessly captures the rush of being young and doing something the adults wouldn't like but is, nevertheless, exactly what you need. Threaded throughout the teens' adventure is an undercurrent of grief for a passed parent, which Walther tackles with sensitivity. Family secrets and drama add to the naturally high stakes. Told in four distinct points of view, the story unfurls masterfully and at breakneck speed. The ending will have readers pumping their fists in celebration of well-played mischief and swooning over the couples' chemistry.

To repair her fractured social circle, 17-year-old student body president Grace Barbour engineers an illicit skip day, enlisting her bestie Isabel Cruz to "kidnap" their estranged friend Everett Adler from school to spend the day reenacting their favorite Philadelphia experiences. Meanwhile, Grace's older brother James, suspecting she's up to shenanigans, attempts to track her down. Complex relationship dynamics threaten to shatter the group's rapport for good: Grace has a crush on Everett, who used to date Isa, who's secretly seeing James. As the four traipse through Philly, they address old hurts and suppressed feelings and have heart-to-hearts over the city's best cheese- steaks. In this ardent ode to the city of brotherly love, an homage to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Walther (The Summer of Broken Rules) playfully hits the film's well-known beats and quotes, while giving it a contemporary rom-com spin that captures adolescent turmoil and apprehension regarding the future. Tongue-in-cheek, humorous, and self-aware, it's a tale whose familiar framework still contains room for an emotionally rich romp. Grace, Everett, and James read as white; Isa cues as Latinx. Ages 12--up. Agent: Eva M. Scalzo, Speilburg Literary. (Mar.)

Gr 9 Up--A new rom-com take on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Student body president Grace is the good girl who always does the right thing. It's usually her brother James who is sneaking around. But what she wants to do today is fake being sick and convince her best friends Everett and Isa to skip with her for a day of fun and high jinks. What she does not know is at school, people are extremely worried about her and have started a SaveGrace movement. And the fun day is not without secrets and complications. Unspoken feelings and heavier topics like parental death and depression are balanced well with lighthearted and humorous moments between the "secret" couples of Grace and Everett and Isa and James. They go to Philadelphia to various tourist sites and strengthen their friendships. At the same time, they're discovering things about themselves: their feelings, their ambitions, their inner strength. That they're stronger together than alone. Walther's writing style flows well. Her characters are realistic and well-developed. Even secondary characters (like the mean principal) are engaging and interesting. Readers will remain engaged while also rooting for the main characters. VERDICT With a plot that has romance, humor, and complications, this book will especially appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Kasie West, and Katherine Center.--Melissa Palmer

An entertaining romp reminiscent ofFerris Bueller's Day Off. High school senior Grace Barbour needs a break from school, and she's pretty sure her best friends, Isabel Cruz and Everett Adler, do too. The student body president engages in some subterfuge (and begging) to get the pair to skip school and hit the road for the best day ever. Grace's motives aren't entirely altruistic--she has growing feelings for Everett, who's Isa's ex. She needs them to make up ASAP so she and Everett can move forward with their relationship. Isa, meanwhile, is keeping a secret from Grace--she and Grace's brother, James, have feelings for one another (and James is hot on the trio's trail). An unforgettable day unfolds, as the longtime friends, who are just a month from graduation, deal with their entangled bonds, reveal secrets, explore the city, and eat cheesesteaks. Despite a slightly slow start, Walther's latest ramps up to become a lively and enjoyable read. The Philadelphia setting shines as the friends reminisce about their childhoods growing up just outside the city and the special bond their families share. Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and grief, are dealt with sympathetically between capers. The multifaceted characters effectively deal with their problems through satisfying conversations. Isa is Latine, Everett is Jewish and cued white, and Grace, who's bisexual, also presents white. Rom-com fans will love this joyride through Philadelphia.(Romance. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* Grace, her brother James, and her best friends Isa and Everett used to be inseparable. Until Isa and Everett had a messy breakup in ninth grade and the friendships fractured. Now, Grace and Everett are secretly friends who like each other, and Isa and James are "hanging out." In the final month of their senior year, Grace orchestrates a "day off" in Philadelphia for the quartet. But James is no fool, and he can sense his sister is up to something. What follows is a breathless romp through the city, complete with a principal who may or may not be on the hunt. Walther's homage to Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a delightful whirlwind. Filled with romance and shenanigans in spades, it effortlessly captures the rush of being young and doing something the adults wouldn't like but is, nevertheless, exactly what you need. Threaded throughout the teens' adventure is an undercurrent of grief for a passed parent, which Walther tackles with sensitivity. Family secrets and drama add to the naturally high stakes. Told in four distinct points of view, the story unfurls masterfully and at breakneck speed. The ending will have readers pumping their fists in celebration of well-played mischief and swooning over the couples' chemistry. Grades 9-12. Copyright 2025 Booklist Reviews.

To repair her fractured social circle, 17-year-old student body president Grace Barbour engineers an illicit skip day, enlisting her bestie Isabel Cruz to "kidnap" their estranged friend Everett Adler from school to spend the day reenacting their favorite Philadelphia experiences. Meanwhile, Grace's older brother James, suspecting she's up to shenanigans, attempts to track her down. Complex relationship dynamics threaten to shatter the group's rapport for good: Grace has a crush on Everett, who used to date Isa, who's secretly seeing James. As the four traipse through Philly, they address old hurts and suppressed feelings and have heart-to-hearts over the city's best cheese- steaks. In this ardent ode to the city of brotherly love, an homage to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Walther (The Summer of Broken Rules) playfully hits the film's well-known beats and quotes, while giving it a contemporary rom-com spin that captures adolescent turmoil and apprehension regarding the future. Tongue-in-cheek, humorous, and self-aware, it's a tale whose familiar framework still contains room for an emotionally rich romp. Grace, Everett, and James read as white; Isa cues as Latinx. Ages 12–up. Agent: Eva M. Scalzo, Speilburg Literary. (Mar.)

Gr 9 Up—A new rom-com take on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Student body president Grace is the good girl who always does the right thing. It's usually her brother James who is sneaking around. But what she wants to do today is fake being sick and convince her best friends Everett and Isa to skip with her for a day of fun and high jinks. What she does not know is at school, people are extremely worried about her and have started a SaveGrace movement. And the fun day is not without secrets and complications. Unspoken feelings and heavier topics like parental death and depression are balanced well with lighthearted and humorous moments between the "secret" couples of Grace and Everett and Isa and James. They go to Philadelphia to various tourist sites and strengthen their friendships. At the same time, they're discovering things about themselves: their feelings, their ambitions, their inner strength. That they're stronger together than alone. Walther's writing style flows well. Her characters are realistic and well-developed. Even secondary characters (like the mean principal) are engaging and interesting. Readers will remain engaged while also rooting for the main characters. VERDICT With a plot that has romance, humor, and complications, this book will especially appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Kasie West, and Katherine Center.—Melissa Palmer