TWENTY-FOUR SECONDS FROM NOW . . .: A LOVE Story, by Jason Reynolds, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, Oct. 8, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now, by Jason Reynolds, chronicles the seconds, minutes, hours and days leading up to two teens losing their virginity.
Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church. Not his finest moment. And definitely one he would have loved to forget if it weren’t for the dog’s owner: Aria. Dressed in sweats, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail. Aria. Way more than fine.
Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, and while they haven’t taken that next big step…yet, they’ve starting talking about…that.
Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her—gulp—bra in his room. Hey! No judging! Those hook thingies are complicated! So, he’d figured he’d better practice, what with the big day only a month away.
Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria. They’re not candlelight and they definitely aren’t caviar, but they are her favorite.
And right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, completely freaking out because twenty-four seconds from now he and Aria are about to…about to… Well, they won’t do anything if he can’t get out of his own head (all the advice, insecurities, and what ifs) and out of this bathroom! —Synopsis provided by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
As much as parents don’t want to think about it, teens do have sex. One way parents can help teens make good choices is having open, honest conversations. And Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is an excellent starting point for all teens, but especially with boys.
That’s because the story unfolds from Neon’s point of view. Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is a book about relationships — parental support, strong friendships and emotional intelligence.
The story does bounce around a bit, and the chapters are longer than many are used to, but once you get used to the formatting, the flow makes sense.
Author Jason Reynolds truly understands his audience. This means his writing, though admired by adults, will speak specifically to teens.
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is a clean romance about teens on the brink of losing virginity. It’s a thoughtful and engaging read.
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