And Emery Lord has done it again! I am convinced that this an author who can do no wrong. Her ability to write authentic teen voices as well as create real teenage experiences is extraordinary. In each of her novels she tackles something new and is able to do so in a way that is not only sensitive but makes readers want to listen. In "The Names They Gave Us," I not only loved how Lord addressed Lucy's relationship with her mother's diagnosis but also Lucy's relationship with her faith. Religion can be a tricky subject in the YA world and I think Lord handled it beautifully through her ability to not only have the characters make up their own minds about faith, but readers as well. I could go on and on about this book, but the bottom line is this - this is a book that needs to be on every bookshelf, whether it's a public library, school library, or home library. It presents an amazing opportunity for discussion and is just an overwhelmingly gorgeous piece of prose. HIGHLY recommend!

Thank you, Bloomsbury for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to be the black sheep with this one. I enjoy Emery's writing style and how she emphasizes positive teen friendships, but I'm always left feeling like something is missing from the overall story.

Lucy was an inconsistent character for me. One minute she's portrayed as this sheltered church kid (who goes to public school and has friends who are lesbians) and in the next she's shocked to discover a pregnant teenager at camp. Really? Even after her nurse mom tries to get her to remind her friends at prom to practice safe sex? None of the teenagers I spend time with on a weekly basis, the majority of whom are Christians ranging from uber-conservative to liberal, would be shocked by that. Not even the homeschooled kids who are erroneously considered the most sheltered of all.

I disagree with the comments I've seen about this not being a cancer book. The MC may not be struggling with the disease herself and we may not find out whether Lucy's mom lives or dies as a result of the many, many things left unresolved at the end (A major pet peeve of mine especially in contemporary) but there is enough focus on her mother's battle to qualify this as cancer book. To say otherwise feels misleading to me, especially for readers who may be dealing with a similar situation in real life.

The secret reveal came way too late in the story, leaving the ending rushed and disjointed. I wish it had been left out altogether or explored much earlier in the story giving way to resolution. Seeing Lucy make new friends, fall in love again and start to figure out who she was was a really enjoyable story all on it's own. And I have a difficult time believing a teenager who has been consumed with worry over her mother's health and struggling with her faith would be okay with learning her mother lied to her, that she has a sister, and then watching her father break down for the first time in her life after only a few hours. If anything, it would have the opposite effect or exacerbate her crisis of faith.

Again, thank you for the chance to read this one, but it wasn't for me.

I don't see religion playing a big factor in many Young Adult books, but I know I have teens who frequent my library who are very religious. I'm glad that Lucy and her faith were handled well. I found Lucy's struggles with her faith after her mom's recurrence of cancer to be authentic. I liked the diversity of the characters and all that they added to the story. I can't wait to recommend this one to my teens.

I really fell in love with the characters of this book and was drawn into their world. Lucy, Anna, Keely, Mohan, and Jones, were wonderfully thought out and invited us willingly into their worlds. I liked watching Lucy find her place among her new friends, and create new depth within her life. The ending did not give me the closure I was looking for though. I really feel like as a reader we need some kind of epilogue to give us a few more answers to lingering questions.

This book is so important. I saw a bit of myself in every character and the foundation of this book is about found family which is so so so important to me. While the book ended and I had unanswered questions that didn't matter to me. It ended and I couldn't stop crying happy tears. I also now want to re-read it so that I can find clues that I missed the first time.

This book had many of the elements of books that I love. But there were a few things that brought the rating to a 3-3.5 for me. There are a lot of characters I was interested in, but they didn't get developed as much. This makes sense since it isn't an ensemble book, but it did affect some characters feeling flat when I was so curious about them. The author seemed to try too hard to address every kind of "issue" and it made for some parts (the ending, especially) that were too obviously pushing an agenda. The pacing was a bit uneven, and the ending seemed abrupt. I know it was intentional because the point isn't what direction things go in the end, but the coming of age moment. But it still affected my overall experience of the novel.

As a huge fan of Emery Lord, I knew undoubtedly that I would love her newest book.
That being said, I was worried a bit about the "religious" aspect of the book, as someone who isn't of the Christian faith, and a live a fairly agnostic life, I worried that there would be a gap in what I could related to. Unfounded were my worries, as Emery crafts a story that weaves in such gorgeous depictions of what true spirituality means, and how all people should treat each other. There was not a single part that made me feel like an outsider, peering into a world of which I am not a part. Instead, it felt more like a wish, of what being a part of a religious faith driven community could feel like - a sense of identity, with the strength to catch you if you falter. I loved it, every character felt real, and likeable. It's a gorgeous telling of a coming-of-age story, with relevant topics that focus on respect, self-awareness, empathy, and relationships.