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The Yearbook
Misfit teen Lola Lundy has every right to her anger and her misery. She’s failing in school, living in a group home, and social workers keep watching her like hawks, waiting for her to show signs of the horrible mental illness that cost Lola’s mother her life. Then, one night, she falls asleep in a storage room in her high school library, where she’s seen an old yearbook—from the days when the place was an upscale academy for young scholars instead of a dump. When Lola wakes, it’s to a scene that is nothing short of impossible.
Lola quickly determines that she’s gone back to the past—eighty years in the past, to be exact. The Fall Frolic dance is going full blast in the gym, and there she makes an instant connection with the brainy and provocative Peter Hemmings, class of ’24. His face is familiar, because she’s seen his senior portrait in the yearbook. By night’s end, Lola thinks she sees hope for her disastrous present: She’ll make a new future for herself in the past. But is it real? Or has the major mental illness in Lola’s family background finally claimed her? Has she slipped through a crack in time, or into a romantic hallucination she created in her own mind, wishing on the ragged pages of a yearbook from a more graceful time long ago?
Lola quickly determines that she’s gone back to the past—eighty years in the past, to be exact. The Fall Frolic dance is going full blast in the gym, and there she makes an instant connection with the brainy and provocative Peter Hemmings, class of ’24. His face is familiar, because she’s seen his senior portrait in the yearbook. By night’s end, Lola thinks she sees hope for her disastrous present: She’ll make a new future for herself in the past. But is it real? Or has the major mental illness in Lola’s family background finally claimed her? Has she slipped through a crack in time, or into a romantic hallucination she created in her own mind, wishing on the ragged pages of a yearbook from a more graceful time long ago?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2015
39 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Carol Masciola
1 book45 followersCarol Masciola got the idea for her novel, The Yearbook (a USA Today bestseller), after inheriting a 1924 yearbook that had belonged to her grandmother. She is a former newspaper reporter and winner of the PEN/West Literary Award in journalism.
The Yearbook is about an unstable teen whose obsession with a 1923 school yearbook appears to send her back in time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 19, 2015
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
Well, this is a hard review to write. There are things wrong with this book, things that I feel may irritate the average reader, things that irritated me. But then... I also really liked it. Hence the confusion.
The story was just really captivating. The idea of being stuck in time was so cool. And Lola never felt like she belonged, so when she found a place (time?) that suited her, it was really fun to watch her blossom. And I loved the idea that she never knew when she could be snatched back to the present.
The characters were really great. Especially the ones in the past, because holy crap, I adore Lola's past friends and love interest. Even the people in the present seemed to have appropriate reactions to things (vagueness for reasons) and it fit well into the storyline.
The second half of the book was basically unputdownable, but the last 15% was just fabulous. I loved how exciting the ending was, but how I also felt a sense that the story had been tied up and I wasn't left hanging.
Honestly, it was just plain enjoyable. It was a fun story, and I was entertained. And sometimes, that is just good enough!
The problems:
The beginning was kind of... confusing. It was a little rushed and disconnected, and I felt like the information I was getting was a bit of an info-dump via some behind the scenes conversations. It was like the book needed to get its groove, and luckily it did, though it took some time.
This kind of goes hand in hand with the above point, but I would have liked more world building. I suppose that since Lola had no idea what was happening, it made sense that we didn't either, but there were some details that I would have liked explained a bit more, especially when it came to the semantics of the travel itself. At times I just found myself asking "but... how?" and getting no explanation. I like explanations.
There is a pretty strong case of insta-love. In hindsight, I suppose there are reasons. But in the moment, I was rolling my eyes. I did like Peter though, so that was good. And it's easy to see why someone like Lola who has never felt loved would cling to someone so quickly. I guess I understood it from her end more than his.
Bottom Line: This story just made me happy. It was exciting, and heartwarming, and sweet. Yes, it was flawed, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this fun, fast read.
*Copy provided by publisher for review
Well, this is a hard review to write. There are things wrong with this book, things that I feel may irritate the average reader, things that irritated me. But then... I also really liked it. Hence the confusion.
So, what appealed to me? Good question!
The story was just really captivating. The idea of being stuck in time was so cool. And Lola never felt like she belonged, so when she found a place (time?) that suited her, it was really fun to watch her blossom. And I loved the idea that she never knew when she could be snatched back to the present.
The characters were really great. Especially the ones in the past, because holy crap, I adore Lola's past friends and love interest. Even the people in the present seemed to have appropriate reactions to things (vagueness for reasons) and it fit well into the storyline.
The second half of the book was basically unputdownable, but the last 15% was just fabulous. I loved how exciting the ending was, but how I also felt a sense that the story had been tied up and I wasn't left hanging.
Honestly, it was just plain enjoyable. It was a fun story, and I was entertained. And sometimes, that is just good enough!
The problems:
The beginning was kind of... confusing. It was a little rushed and disconnected, and I felt like the information I was getting was a bit of an info-dump via some behind the scenes conversations. It was like the book needed to get its groove, and luckily it did, though it took some time.
This kind of goes hand in hand with the above point, but I would have liked more world building. I suppose that since Lola had no idea what was happening, it made sense that we didn't either, but there were some details that I would have liked explained a bit more, especially when it came to the semantics of the travel itself. At times I just found myself asking "but... how?" and getting no explanation. I like explanations.
There is a pretty strong case of insta-love. In hindsight, I suppose there are reasons. But in the moment, I was rolling my eyes. I did like Peter though, so that was good. And it's easy to see why someone like Lola who has never felt loved would cling to someone so quickly. I guess I understood it from her end more than his.
Bottom Line: This story just made me happy. It was exciting, and heartwarming, and sweet. Yes, it was flawed, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this fun, fast read.
*Copy provided by publisher for review
March 1, 2016
I liked the time travel part, just because the fact that this is a perfect reason to love and read books, you can always visit some places you've never been in :) This is also my first read from Carol Masciola, and I must say, she has a point with this book. It's well written and it's a good one to read. Well, if you like historical fiction/time travel stories
December 10, 2015
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Imagine cleaning out a small room in the library in your school...then falling asleep looking through an old yearbook you found...and waking up in a completely different year. You wander out of the library to find a school dance going on in the gym, full of people that you don't know. These people talk differently, dress differently, and act differently...and oh, it's also 1924.
And then the realization dawns on you...hey, these people are awfully familiar. Who could they be? Wait a minute...aren't these the people that you just saw in the yearbook I was looking through? So you figure that you don't have anything to lose, and you start to mingle with these teenagers and come to realize that you actually get along with them...and much better than anyone from your time.
So when you meet Peter, a boy at the dance that you realize you like, you start wondering what it would be like to stay in this time, instead of going back to your own.
This is what Lola goes through on one afternoon when she offers to help clean up a ruined room in the school library. While trying to get away from a social worker, she stumbles in and is asked to clean up, and, figuring it will keep her away from the person following her, she agrees to help out. From there, things start happening that she cannot explain...but the life she discovers in 1924 is so much better than the life she has now: full of social workers, foster parents, group homes, and no family. She feels like she belongs in 1924. So when she finds herself back in her own time, she tries to learn everything she can about the time she had visited - including how she can get back there.
For me, this was one of those books that I had to let myself enjoy. When I first started reading it, I found myself unable to appreciate Lola's character and her situation...instead finding her to be a bit obnoxious and over the top, but as the story continued on, I found myself enjoying reading about her and the weirdness that she's going through.
One thing that did strike me as different and quite enjoyable about this book is the fact that it is open for interpretation from the reader. Since Lola's mother suffered from schizophrenia, we, as the readers, are left with the question of whether or not Lola is actually visiting 1924, or if she might be dealing with the same types of hallucinations that her mother had gone through. I personally love a book that makes me think, and gives me something to ponder over. It makes the experience enriching and enjoyable. While parts of this are confusing and leave you wondering, "wait, what?" the book itself is one of those different books that will stick with you for a long time!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine cleaning out a small room in the library in your school...then falling asleep looking through an old yearbook you found...and waking up in a completely different year. You wander out of the library to find a school dance going on in the gym, full of people that you don't know. These people talk differently, dress differently, and act differently...and oh, it's also 1924.
And then the realization dawns on you...hey, these people are awfully familiar. Who could they be? Wait a minute...aren't these the people that you just saw in the yearbook I was looking through? So you figure that you don't have anything to lose, and you start to mingle with these teenagers and come to realize that you actually get along with them...and much better than anyone from your time.
So when you meet Peter, a boy at the dance that you realize you like, you start wondering what it would be like to stay in this time, instead of going back to your own.
This is what Lola goes through on one afternoon when she offers to help clean up a ruined room in the school library. While trying to get away from a social worker, she stumbles in and is asked to clean up, and, figuring it will keep her away from the person following her, she agrees to help out. From there, things start happening that she cannot explain...but the life she discovers in 1924 is so much better than the life she has now: full of social workers, foster parents, group homes, and no family. She feels like she belongs in 1924. So when she finds herself back in her own time, she tries to learn everything she can about the time she had visited - including how she can get back there.
For me, this was one of those books that I had to let myself enjoy. When I first started reading it, I found myself unable to appreciate Lola's character and her situation...instead finding her to be a bit obnoxious and over the top, but as the story continued on, I found myself enjoying reading about her and the weirdness that she's going through.
One thing that did strike me as different and quite enjoyable about this book is the fact that it is open for interpretation from the reader. Since Lola's mother suffered from schizophrenia, we, as the readers, are left with the question of whether or not Lola is actually visiting 1924, or if she might be dealing with the same types of hallucinations that her mother had gone through. I personally love a book that makes me think, and gives me something to ponder over. It makes the experience enriching and enjoyable. While parts of this are confusing and leave you wondering, "wait, what?" the book itself is one of those different books that will stick with you for a long time!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2016
This book is a page-turner!!! Is Lola time-traveling or is she crazy like her mother? This book explores how our expectations of people affect how we interpret their behavior.
When Lola seems to travel to the past, she is dealt a better deck of cards than she's dealt in her own time. But is this a delusional fantasy or is it really happening? Either way, it's refreshing to watch her grow and change in 1923, not because 1923 is better, but because no one there knows about her mother, her foster homes, and her juvenile and school records. With a fresh slate, Lola is able to rise to the higher expectations placed on her. I thought Lola came across as a genuine, likable teen.
This book keeps you reading as you wonder what is really going on with Lola. The ending is exciting and the reader is left guessing until the final chapter.
When Lola seems to travel to the past, she is dealt a better deck of cards than she's dealt in her own time. But is this a delusional fantasy or is it really happening? Either way, it's refreshing to watch her grow and change in 1923, not because 1923 is better, but because no one there knows about her mother, her foster homes, and her juvenile and school records. With a fresh slate, Lola is able to rise to the higher expectations placed on her. I thought Lola came across as a genuine, likable teen.
This book keeps you reading as you wonder what is really going on with Lola. The ending is exciting and the reader is left guessing until the final chapter.
November 5, 2015
For more reviews, visit Books and Insomnia
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*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Carol!*
Carol Masciola's The Yearbook is a compelling read. I don't usually read historical fiction but this one kept my eyes glued to the pages. And time travel! Yay!
First off, I really enjoyed the story. I liked the unpredictability and the mystery surrounding Lola's time travel. It's something she didn't expect and couldn't control, so it's very interesting to read. I would just have wanted to know more about how the 'portal' works, but really, glitches in the matrix are not something you could just wrap your head around.
The start was kinda slow, but once the plot picked up, it's all uphill from there. The Yearbook has a very intriguing story that will fascinate even readers who don't usually venture into the historical fiction genre.
The characters were also wonderful, especially the 1920's people. They were funny and cool and adorable. Whoopsie was an especially remarkable character. I love this girl! Lola, although a lonely teen, was strong and head-smart. I liked how she easily adapted into the 1920s and found a way to start a new life. Peter was a love interest you'd easily like. He's also smart, very curious and understanding.
The world-building was good and I liked how the author painted the 1920s in my mind. The places and the 1920s fashion were described in such detail that it was delightful to imagine.
I liked the romance between Lola and Peter. It's actually sweet without being over-the-top cheesy and clichéd. While there's instalove present, I kinda understand how Lola could instantly feel attached to a person who showed her kindness in an unfamiliar time and place.
And I absolutely loved the ending! It was brilliant! For the second half or so, I COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN . I was thinking of a lot of ways things could end badly, especially with an unpredictable story like this. I couldn't decide whether the time travel was real or Lola was just really hallucinating. But Carol Masciola weaved everything into perfection. It was beautiful and heartwarming. I couldn't have asked for a better ending.
The Yearbook exceeded my expectations. It was really good and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
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Purchase this book from: Amazon | The Book Depository
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*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Carol!*
Carol Masciola's The Yearbook is a compelling read. I don't usually read historical fiction but this one kept my eyes glued to the pages. And time travel! Yay!
First off, I really enjoyed the story. I liked the unpredictability and the mystery surrounding Lola's time travel. It's something she didn't expect and couldn't control, so it's very interesting to read. I would just have wanted to know more about how the 'portal' works, but really, glitches in the matrix are not something you could just wrap your head around.
The start was kinda slow, but once the plot picked up, it's all uphill from there. The Yearbook has a very intriguing story that will fascinate even readers who don't usually venture into the historical fiction genre.
The characters were also wonderful, especially the 1920's people. They were funny and cool and adorable. Whoopsie was an especially remarkable character. I love this girl! Lola, although a lonely teen, was strong and head-smart. I liked how she easily adapted into the 1920s and found a way to start a new life. Peter was a love interest you'd easily like. He's also smart, very curious and understanding.
The world-building was good and I liked how the author painted the 1920s in my mind. The places and the 1920s fashion were described in such detail that it was delightful to imagine.
I liked the romance between Lola and Peter. It's actually sweet without being over-the-top cheesy and clichéd. While there's instalove present, I kinda understand how Lola could instantly feel attached to a person who showed her kindness in an unfamiliar time and place.
And I absolutely loved the ending! It was brilliant! For the second half or so, I COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN . I was thinking of a lot of ways things could end badly, especially with an unpredictable story like this. I couldn't decide whether the time travel was real or Lola was just really hallucinating. But Carol Masciola weaved everything into perfection. It was beautiful and heartwarming. I couldn't have asked for a better ending.
The Yearbook exceeded my expectations. It was really good and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
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Purchase this book from: Amazon | The Book Depository
November 3, 2015
A copy of this novel was provided by F+W Media, Inc. for review via Edelweiss.
The Yearbook was a fast and enjoyable read, to sum up.
The beginning of The Yearbook was a bit rocky, I have to say. There were a few things that weren’t explained very well, or were explained through random scenes outside of the main character’s perspective. Even so, once the book gets going, everything pretty much falls into place, so it’s easy to forgive the beginning.
If you’re one who loathes the instalove, The Yearbook might not be the book for you. I thought the relationship between Peter and Lola was adorable and sweet, even if it did move pretty fast. I just thought that they clicked really well, and I definitely wanted a happily ever after for these two.
On the note of a happily ever after, I won’t tell you if it actually happens, but I have to tell you that the last 20% or so of this book is heartbreaking because you really do not know what is going to happen. Because of Lola’s mother’s history of mental health, Lola starts to believe that she may not have travelled back to the 1920s at all, and that she just imagined her life in that time, and her friends, and Peter by looking through old yearbooks and history texts. This was probably the part of the novel I liked best, because it brought out the most emotion in me, and I like my books with some emotion.
I have to say that I would have loved a little more world building and description of the 1920s when Lola was there. There were some great descriptions, like the fashion, but I also wish that I’d been shown a little more of what life was like back then. A lot of the time the sections of this book where Lola is in the 1920s were skipped over by jumps in time. I wouldn’t have minded reading about her normal days, because the 1920s were so vastly different to the time we’re living in right now, and I love the comparisons.
The characters could have done with a little more development, but they were pretty well rounded, for the most part. Lola was by far the most fleshed out character, followed probably by Whoopsie and Peter together. These three were definitely my favourite characters, as well. I loved how dorky and unsure Peter was, and also how much he cared about Lola, even though he didn’t quite understand everything about her. Something happens later in the book regarding Whoopsie, and it was SO GREAT. You’ll have to read it to find out.
Overall, The Yearbook was a lovely read, and I recommend it to lovers of historical fiction, and travelling through time!
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
The Yearbook was a fast and enjoyable read, to sum up.
The beginning of The Yearbook was a bit rocky, I have to say. There were a few things that weren’t explained very well, or were explained through random scenes outside of the main character’s perspective. Even so, once the book gets going, everything pretty much falls into place, so it’s easy to forgive the beginning.
If you’re one who loathes the instalove, The Yearbook might not be the book for you. I thought the relationship between Peter and Lola was adorable and sweet, even if it did move pretty fast. I just thought that they clicked really well, and I definitely wanted a happily ever after for these two.
On the note of a happily ever after, I won’t tell you if it actually happens, but I have to tell you that the last 20% or so of this book is heartbreaking because you really do not know what is going to happen. Because of Lola’s mother’s history of mental health, Lola starts to believe that she may not have travelled back to the 1920s at all, and that she just imagined her life in that time, and her friends, and Peter by looking through old yearbooks and history texts. This was probably the part of the novel I liked best, because it brought out the most emotion in me, and I like my books with some emotion.
I have to say that I would have loved a little more world building and description of the 1920s when Lola was there. There were some great descriptions, like the fashion, but I also wish that I’d been shown a little more of what life was like back then. A lot of the time the sections of this book where Lola is in the 1920s were skipped over by jumps in time. I wouldn’t have minded reading about her normal days, because the 1920s were so vastly different to the time we’re living in right now, and I love the comparisons.
The characters could have done with a little more development, but they were pretty well rounded, for the most part. Lola was by far the most fleshed out character, followed probably by Whoopsie and Peter together. These three were definitely my favourite characters, as well. I loved how dorky and unsure Peter was, and also how much he cared about Lola, even though he didn’t quite understand everything about her. Something happens later in the book regarding Whoopsie, and it was SO GREAT. You’ll have to read it to find out.
Overall, The Yearbook was a lovely read, and I recommend it to lovers of historical fiction, and travelling through time!
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
March 15, 2020
A completely pleasant surprise. A true little gem of a book.
I bought this book purely for the title. I do yearly alphabet challenge (to read titles starting with each letter of the alphabet) and I needed a Y title.
I’m very glad I did!
The Yearbook is a charming and imaginative story about love and time travel. It was a very fast read because I didn’t want to stop reading it. I definitely recommend picking it up if you want something light and lovely to read.
I bought this book purely for the title. I do yearly alphabet challenge (to read titles starting with each letter of the alphabet) and I needed a Y title.
I’m very glad I did!
The Yearbook is a charming and imaginative story about love and time travel. It was a very fast read because I didn’t want to stop reading it. I definitely recommend picking it up if you want something light and lovely to read.
December 30, 2015
First I would like to state that I have received this book through the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. The Yearbook is a compelling read. This book kept my eyes glued to the pages. I really enjoyed the story, liked the unpredictability and the mystery surrounding Lola's time travel.
The start was a bit slower than I would have liked, but once the story/plot picked up, it was all uphill from there. The Yearbook is a very intriguing story that will fascinate even readers who do not normally read historical fiction.
The writer has done a wonderful job making the characters seem so real. This was so brilliant! I COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN. I was thinking of a lot of ways things could end badly, especially with an unpredictable story like this. I couldn't decide whether the time travel was real or Lola was just really hallucinating. But the author wove the plot of this story to perfection. It was beautiful and heartwarming. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. I absolutely loved the ending.
I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. The Yearbook is a compelling read. This book kept my eyes glued to the pages. I really enjoyed the story, liked the unpredictability and the mystery surrounding Lola's time travel.
The start was a bit slower than I would have liked, but once the story/plot picked up, it was all uphill from there. The Yearbook is a very intriguing story that will fascinate even readers who do not normally read historical fiction.
The writer has done a wonderful job making the characters seem so real. This was so brilliant! I COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN. I was thinking of a lot of ways things could end badly, especially with an unpredictable story like this. I couldn't decide whether the time travel was real or Lola was just really hallucinating. But the author wove the plot of this story to perfection. It was beautiful and heartwarming. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. I absolutely loved the ending.
November 15, 2015
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
** I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
My feelings about this book were all over the map. I'm not sure if I can properly explain in words how I felt about this book. I really liked the premise of the book but at the same time I had a hard time warming up to it.
I think my biggest problem with the story was Lola herself. As much as I wanted to I could not find it in myself to like her. Yes she had a troubled past but she was so nasty and indifferent to everything and everyone that crossed her path that she felt more like a bratty, entitled four year old instead of a sixteen year old. I understand that it was possibly intentional so that the reader could see how much nicer she was when she found herself in the past. When she found herself in the past she was much easier to take. The problem was that I disliked her so much at the beginning of the book that I had a hard time warming up to her when she got there. In fact, I hated pretty much all of the characters from the present but was quite fond of most of them from 1923.
I also struggled with the insta love and pull that Lola felt to the past after her initial stint there. It was so brief that I couldn't quite grasp it. I felt that there needed to be more development in both plot and characters in order to understand her extreme desire to go back and the depression that it caused her. It wasn't until Lola returned to the past and was there for a while that I was able to feel and route for the relationship between Lola and Peter.
However, I did find myself flying through the pages even though there were definitely things wrong with the book. Moral implications aside, I was still entertained and interested in knowing how it would all play out. I think young people may really enjoy this book although the cover is not one that would draw them in my opinion. It looks more like a historical book than a YA story about time travel and young love.
I think I am leaning on the generous side when rating this book only because of the appeal that I think it may have to the younger readers.
** I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
My feelings about this book were all over the map. I'm not sure if I can properly explain in words how I felt about this book. I really liked the premise of the book but at the same time I had a hard time warming up to it.
I think my biggest problem with the story was Lola herself. As much as I wanted to I could not find it in myself to like her. Yes she had a troubled past but she was so nasty and indifferent to everything and everyone that crossed her path that she felt more like a bratty, entitled four year old instead of a sixteen year old. I understand that it was possibly intentional so that the reader could see how much nicer she was when she found herself in the past. When she found herself in the past she was much easier to take. The problem was that I disliked her so much at the beginning of the book that I had a hard time warming up to her when she got there. In fact, I hated pretty much all of the characters from the present but was quite fond of most of them from 1923.
I also struggled with the insta love and pull that Lola felt to the past after her initial stint there. It was so brief that I couldn't quite grasp it. I felt that there needed to be more development in both plot and characters in order to understand her extreme desire to go back and the depression that it caused her. It wasn't until Lola returned to the past and was there for a while that I was able to feel and route for the relationship between Lola and Peter.
However, I did find myself flying through the pages even though there were definitely things wrong with the book. Moral implications aside, I was still entertained and interested in knowing how it would all play out. I think young people may really enjoy this book although the cover is not one that would draw them in my opinion. It looks more like a historical book than a YA story about time travel and young love.
I think I am leaning on the generous side when rating this book only because of the appeal that I think it may have to the younger readers.
March 14, 2016
I love time travel novels (my favorite being Overseas by Beatriz Williams). I love them so much I have already read two YA time travel novels this year and I have one coming to me from Book Depository in the mail. I think it all stems from my favorite book being A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle as a child, but I digress. When I had originally read the description for this book when I was doing collection development for the library collection I am responsible for ... I whispered to myself 'yesssssss' and I moved it into my Ingram cart to purchase the book.
I was not left disappointed by this book. I liked that things were left simple or unexplained. The story didn't get lost in the details of why and how time travel was made possible. I liked the characters and the way in which they interacted with each other. I liked the play on supernatural occurrence or mental illness. Could the book have been stronger had some things with the story been tighter? Sure. Could plot and timeline transitions been smoother? Yes. Is this something that I am picking up because I am reading this not only as an adult reader but as a librarian? Likely. Are teens going to care about any of that? No. Teens are going to relate to Lola. They are going to wonder about Peter. They are going to want to know what happens to Whoopsie and if she is going to live out her dream or if she is going to come back for Thumbtack.
The one thing that I kind of didn't like was the typography choice. Font, font size, spacing on a page can really have an effect on the reader's ability not only to read the story but to engage with it and enjoy it. I felt like the typography choice was a little off beat (and it went with the theme of the book, I mean come on, the entire thing was meant to feel vintage because hello - it's a book about time travel to 1923) and could potentially distract readers because they might not realize that it differs from other books that they may have picked up recently.
I was not left disappointed by this book. I liked that things were left simple or unexplained. The story didn't get lost in the details of why and how time travel was made possible. I liked the characters and the way in which they interacted with each other. I liked the play on supernatural occurrence or mental illness. Could the book have been stronger had some things with the story been tighter? Sure. Could plot and timeline transitions been smoother? Yes. Is this something that I am picking up because I am reading this not only as an adult reader but as a librarian? Likely. Are teens going to care about any of that? No. Teens are going to relate to Lola. They are going to wonder about Peter. They are going to want to know what happens to Whoopsie and if she is going to live out her dream or if she is going to come back for Thumbtack.
The one thing that I kind of didn't like was the typography choice. Font, font size, spacing on a page can really have an effect on the reader's ability not only to read the story but to engage with it and enjoy it. I felt like the typography choice was a little off beat (and it went with the theme of the book, I mean come on, the entire thing was meant to feel vintage because hello - it's a book about time travel to 1923) and could potentially distract readers because they might not realize that it differs from other books that they may have picked up recently.
February 19, 2016
The Yearbook is a fast read, filled with twists and turns. I couldn't put it down. And it's comforting as a teen to be able to relate to a character (Lola) who is also struggling to find her place in society. And when she finally does, it's something so incredible that I almost wish it would happen to me. Lola discovers an old high school yearbook from the twenties, and ends up going to high school with them. A senior myself, it's funny to see how seniors in the twenties acted so differently than seniors today. But then again, even the students back then were struggling to fit in, just like me. Bottom line: It's a great book, go buy it!
May 11, 2016
I got this book from MeritPress.
I was very interested in the concept of this book when I read the summary, however it was very scattered and hard to get into. From the very first sentence I was very confused. It seemed that this book launched into the story without giving it a proper exposition. Then when she does time-travel for the first time, too much goes on in such a short period of time that it made it hard to connect. I felt as if Lola could be a very developed character but her life was told in a very scattered way. I think that this book would have potential if it was made longer and more developed.
I was very interested in the concept of this book when I read the summary, however it was very scattered and hard to get into. From the very first sentence I was very confused. It seemed that this book launched into the story without giving it a proper exposition. Then when she does time-travel for the first time, too much goes on in such a short period of time that it made it hard to connect. I felt as if Lola could be a very developed character but her life was told in a very scattered way. I think that this book would have potential if it was made longer and more developed.
November 15, 2015
This is a great book! It reads sort of like a cool 1980s movie that would have starred Molly Ringwald. :) Lola is a troubled teen who travels back in time and finds a life more suited to her. The author really captures the feeling of a better time. I think that most modern day people would be surprised at how much they would prefer the past if they only could experience it. This novel brings the time period to life. Lola is a believable girl and someone you will absolutely root for. This is a charming book. I loved it! :)
January 26, 2016
Let her take you back in time to your best self
I'm not the target audience for a YA novel since I'm retired. And I have to say I've been a fan of Carol's lyrical writing since editing her stories in the Orange County Register. That said, this is a compelling tale of a teen who wants to escape her miserable present to a past where she has a lovely home and loving family and friends. I think all young people would like to escape to that lovely world. I loved this book for the beautiful writing, the storytelling and Carol's sense of wonder.
I'm not the target audience for a YA novel since I'm retired. And I have to say I've been a fan of Carol's lyrical writing since editing her stories in the Orange County Register. That said, this is a compelling tale of a teen who wants to escape her miserable present to a past where she has a lovely home and loving family and friends. I think all young people would like to escape to that lovely world. I loved this book for the beautiful writing, the storytelling and Carol's sense of wonder.
October 9, 2016
{My thoughts} – Lola Lundy is teenage girl that seems to have been born into the wrong era. She is an orphan as her mother had killed herself some years before and she doesn’t have a clue who her father is. She carries around the labels misfit, juvenile delinquent, and unwanted. She seems to get into more trouble then she is capable of staying out of. She also has fear of being diagnosed with the same kind of mental illness that her mother had suffered from.
One day when she goes to school she is trying to get away from someone so she ducks into the library. While she is in there the librarian gives her the key to the reserve room. In this room is where all the really old books are kept. Those books are part of the history of the school and the town and she is in there to throw them all in a big dumpster bin. There had been a fire that had broke out and destroyed nearly everything in the room and now she gets the pleasure of doing the clean up. She wasn’t meant to be there, but some how it had worked to her advantage because no one would be able to see her or find her in that room with the door closed. As she is cleaning up she runs across and old yearbook and she falls asleep looking through it.
When she wakes up she’s in a whole new era. In fact it’s 1923 and nothing she remembers from before she fell asleep is the same. She ends up attending a dance and meeting an incredible boy named Peter Hemmings. Some how though after the dance is over with she ends up back in present day and is not sure if it was a dream, mental break down or a real time leap, but in any case she is determined to try and find her way back to that point in time to be with Peter and the others she had met, to be in the one place where she feels she really belongs.
This book honestly had me a bit confused because I wasn’t sure where it was going. I was unsure for a majority of it as to whether her time travel was real or mental illness induced. I give credit to the author for keeping that mystery alive throughout most of the books pages. The part that confused me the most was how the time travel worked. When she’d went back in time the first time no time had changed in present day when she’d somehow leaped back. However, when she’d went back in time the second time weeks had passed in the past, but no time had changed in the present. When she’d went back the third time no time had passed in the past. The laws of time travel in this book, well in terms of a book that is ordinarily about time travel doesn’t usually work out like this.
Other then the nontraditional time travel within the pages it was a rather interesting read. I do like how the author was able to merge time travel and mental illness into one book and make it make sense. If you’d like to know more about the book you’ll have to read it, although I must warn you to keep an open mind while reading.
One day when she goes to school she is trying to get away from someone so she ducks into the library. While she is in there the librarian gives her the key to the reserve room. In this room is where all the really old books are kept. Those books are part of the history of the school and the town and she is in there to throw them all in a big dumpster bin. There had been a fire that had broke out and destroyed nearly everything in the room and now she gets the pleasure of doing the clean up. She wasn’t meant to be there, but some how it had worked to her advantage because no one would be able to see her or find her in that room with the door closed. As she is cleaning up she runs across and old yearbook and she falls asleep looking through it.
When she wakes up she’s in a whole new era. In fact it’s 1923 and nothing she remembers from before she fell asleep is the same. She ends up attending a dance and meeting an incredible boy named Peter Hemmings. Some how though after the dance is over with she ends up back in present day and is not sure if it was a dream, mental break down or a real time leap, but in any case she is determined to try and find her way back to that point in time to be with Peter and the others she had met, to be in the one place where she feels she really belongs.
This book honestly had me a bit confused because I wasn’t sure where it was going. I was unsure for a majority of it as to whether her time travel was real or mental illness induced. I give credit to the author for keeping that mystery alive throughout most of the books pages. The part that confused me the most was how the time travel worked. When she’d went back in time the first time no time had changed in present day when she’d somehow leaped back. However, when she’d went back in time the second time weeks had passed in the past, but no time had changed in the present. When she’d went back the third time no time had passed in the past. The laws of time travel in this book, well in terms of a book that is ordinarily about time travel doesn’t usually work out like this.
Other then the nontraditional time travel within the pages it was a rather interesting read. I do like how the author was able to merge time travel and mental illness into one book and make it make sense. If you’d like to know more about the book you’ll have to read it, although I must warn you to keep an open mind while reading.
February 4, 2016
I loved this enchanting and compelling novel about a teen in trouble who time travels!
Lola Lundy, the girl at the heart of this beautifully written book, lives in a group home, has a history of running away, no close friends, and like many teens caught in a system that is supposed to help them, she is labeled but not really understood. Her mentally ill mother is dead and there is no one who really cares about her. From the opening pages, it is clear that she does not feel at home anywhere. When an old yearbook magically transports her back to 1924 she finally finds a place where she belongs.
From the whimsical slang like “for the love of cucumbers” that peppers the dialogue, to the exquisite descriptions of flapper fashion, places, and food, Masciola evokes the 1920s vividly. I felt like I was right there with Lola, cheering for her as she feels the joy of family, friends, and love for the first time. I liked that Peter, the boy she falls for, is not your typical high school heartthrob. He’s as curious about Lola as he is about the things he likes taking apart to see how they work, and once Lola meets him she never wants to return to the present. But she does.
Lola moves back in forth in time without elaborate devices like the car in Back to the Future. It’s more like the way you move from reality to a dream, and that feels appropriate as the world she travels to is very much the place of her dreams. While the novel gives a nod to some of the more puzzling aspects of time travel like what happens when you change the past, this is not a major focus. Rather, like many of the best time travel novels, the journey to the past, reveals the present in a new light. The town where Lola lives has changed physically for the worse, and the way people relate to each other is worse too. There’s something very attractive about the slower paced, less technological, and kinder world of 1924.
When Lola ends up back in the present day she is misunderstood and gets in more and more trouble. I really feel for her as she becomes increasingly ensnared in a system that means well but keeps making things worse. I’m not going to give anything away but there are lots of twists and turns, and the ending is unexpected and very satisfying! I highly recommend The Yearbook to anyone looking for a beautifully written story about time-travel, and finding a place to call home.
Lola Lundy, the girl at the heart of this beautifully written book, lives in a group home, has a history of running away, no close friends, and like many teens caught in a system that is supposed to help them, she is labeled but not really understood. Her mentally ill mother is dead and there is no one who really cares about her. From the opening pages, it is clear that she does not feel at home anywhere. When an old yearbook magically transports her back to 1924 she finally finds a place where she belongs.
From the whimsical slang like “for the love of cucumbers” that peppers the dialogue, to the exquisite descriptions of flapper fashion, places, and food, Masciola evokes the 1920s vividly. I felt like I was right there with Lola, cheering for her as she feels the joy of family, friends, and love for the first time. I liked that Peter, the boy she falls for, is not your typical high school heartthrob. He’s as curious about Lola as he is about the things he likes taking apart to see how they work, and once Lola meets him she never wants to return to the present. But she does.
Lola moves back in forth in time without elaborate devices like the car in Back to the Future. It’s more like the way you move from reality to a dream, and that feels appropriate as the world she travels to is very much the place of her dreams. While the novel gives a nod to some of the more puzzling aspects of time travel like what happens when you change the past, this is not a major focus. Rather, like many of the best time travel novels, the journey to the past, reveals the present in a new light. The town where Lola lives has changed physically for the worse, and the way people relate to each other is worse too. There’s something very attractive about the slower paced, less technological, and kinder world of 1924.
When Lola ends up back in the present day she is misunderstood and gets in more and more trouble. I really feel for her as she becomes increasingly ensnared in a system that means well but keeps making things worse. I’m not going to give anything away but there are lots of twists and turns, and the ending is unexpected and very satisfying! I highly recommend The Yearbook to anyone looking for a beautifully written story about time-travel, and finding a place to call home.
September 15, 2015
YABC.
It's going to be hard to not tell spoilers here. 'tis the life of a book reviewer. Of course, I could willingly do a little trolling, but that would be mean. And it will ruin the experience for all those potential readers.
Okay, here we go.
Lola Lundy is a troubled teen. She has a terrible past, a rough time at school, and a group home to live in. All those three things make her life very miserable, but when she experiences a trip back to 1924, she truly lives and comes alive. Sure, there are some discrepancies between the modern days and the previous century. But she quickly adjusts in that old period where no one knows about her history and her outsider social status. And she feels much more at home in the 1920s than our times, especially after meeting Peter Hemmings.
Peter is brilliant, and he is constantly looking into how things work and tick. When he meets Lola, he is more than intrigued by her and her ways (like wearing pants, speaking different dialect, etc.). She is a mystery to him, and it is exciting to see the way their relationship goes.
The world building of the 1924 is one of the greatest parts of the book. From the description about the flappers to the ancient-like society to the technology (or lack of it), I am drawn into the story and I find exactly why Lola sees the 1920s in positive way.
Told from third person omniscient, the book offers more information and different point of views. I applaud the ways the POV shifts and changes, making the story much more interesting and exciting to read. It's like an adventure.
The ending. Wow. Grand conclusion. The Yearbook is obviously a standalone. Loose ends tied, amazing scenes, a gripping piece of dialogue, and a HEA.
Despite all these great parts, there is that pesky slow beginning I didn't particularly enjoy. I didn't really connect to Lola (until the fourth chapter), and I didn't understand Peter. But it takes a while for my feet to relax and let the book take me to the 1924.
Overall, The Yearbook is an amazing story of a girl who may or may not be insane. In a possible mental breakdown or a possible time travel back to the past, she finds herself and a family to love. It's a great story to sink my feet into.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
It's going to be hard to not tell spoilers here. 'tis the life of a book reviewer. Of course, I could willingly do a little trolling, but that would be mean. And it will ruin the experience for all those potential readers.
Okay, here we go.
Lola Lundy is a troubled teen. She has a terrible past, a rough time at school, and a group home to live in. All those three things make her life very miserable, but when she experiences a trip back to 1924, she truly lives and comes alive. Sure, there are some discrepancies between the modern days and the previous century. But she quickly adjusts in that old period where no one knows about her history and her outsider social status. And she feels much more at home in the 1920s than our times, especially after meeting Peter Hemmings.
Peter is brilliant, and he is constantly looking into how things work and tick. When he meets Lola, he is more than intrigued by her and her ways (like wearing pants, speaking different dialect, etc.). She is a mystery to him, and it is exciting to see the way their relationship goes.
The world building of the 1924 is one of the greatest parts of the book. From the description about the flappers to the ancient-like society to the technology (or lack of it), I am drawn into the story and I find exactly why Lola sees the 1920s in positive way.
Told from third person omniscient, the book offers more information and different point of views. I applaud the ways the POV shifts and changes, making the story much more interesting and exciting to read. It's like an adventure.
The ending. Wow. Grand conclusion. The Yearbook is obviously a standalone. Loose ends tied, amazing scenes, a gripping piece of dialogue, and a HEA.
Despite all these great parts, there is that pesky slow beginning I didn't particularly enjoy. I didn't really connect to Lola (until the fourth chapter), and I didn't understand Peter. But it takes a while for my feet to relax and let the book take me to the 1924.
Overall, The Yearbook is an amazing story of a girl who may or may not be insane. In a possible mental breakdown or a possible time travel back to the past, she finds herself and a family to love. It's a great story to sink my feet into.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
December 1, 2016
I received a copy of this book from MeritPress.
I am usually a fan of time travel books, but this one is an exception. I never got ahold on how time travel worked in this universe. Sometimes Lola came back to the exact moment she left, other times she went to a different week. At the end, everyone magically aged backwards, but other times Lola kept her age. If the laws of spacetime are going to be broken, they need to be broken consistently.
I felt like this book was too short. The plot jumped around a bit and some things were never explained. It would have been better if things were explained a bit more and there was less jumping around. When Lola went to 1924 for the second time and stayed, things jumped around. She arrived, got a home, then suddenly it was months later and she had friends and a boyfriend. (Insta-love is another problem. She fell in love with the first guy she saw). I never really know what was going on because the plot jumped a lot. Characters and love stories coming out of nowhere, and convenient loopholes were frequent.
I am usually a fan of time travel books, but this one is an exception. I never got ahold on how time travel worked in this universe. Sometimes Lola came back to the exact moment she left, other times she went to a different week. At the end, everyone magically aged backwards, but other times Lola kept her age. If the laws of spacetime are going to be broken, they need to be broken consistently.
I felt like this book was too short. The plot jumped around a bit and some things were never explained. It would have been better if things were explained a bit more and there was less jumping around. When Lola went to 1924 for the second time and stayed, things jumped around. She arrived, got a home, then suddenly it was months later and she had friends and a boyfriend. (Insta-love is another problem. She fell in love with the first guy she saw). I never really know what was going on because the plot jumped a lot. Characters and love stories coming out of nowhere, and convenient loopholes were frequent.
January 2, 2016
This book seemed to combine the 2013 pop song, "Cool Kids" by Echosmith with the best of Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone".
To begin with troubled Lola Lundy, a delinquent ward of the state, wishes to belong. Orphaned and in a group home, she has no close friends. The universal theme of needing acceptance is the powerful driving force in the first half of Masciola's novel. Lola finds much greater acceptance from society---her peer group and adults----in a setting some ninety years in the past.
Second, just as Serling left viewers scratching their heads for the plausibility of the implausible in "The Twilight Zone", Masciola is successful in using the mysterious time warp in Ashfield High School library's reserve room with which to spin an engaging tale that keeps the reader wanting to consume more of her story.
To begin with troubled Lola Lundy, a delinquent ward of the state, wishes to belong. Orphaned and in a group home, she has no close friends. The universal theme of needing acceptance is the powerful driving force in the first half of Masciola's novel. Lola finds much greater acceptance from society---her peer group and adults----in a setting some ninety years in the past.
Second, just as Serling left viewers scratching their heads for the plausibility of the implausible in "The Twilight Zone", Masciola is successful in using the mysterious time warp in Ashfield High School library's reserve room with which to spin an engaging tale that keeps the reader wanting to consume more of her story.
June 1, 2016
Very entertaining. The main character finds out that her husband is cheating on her right after she hits a deer with her Corolla and is then fired from her fast food job for being late. She's totally wacky so of course she takes off on a road trip to Niagara Falls with her even wackier grandmother, and along the way torches a jet ski and the Cadillac courtesy of the grandmother's lesbian cousin who owns 22 pet food stores in order to hide it as the getaway car used to rob a different location of the fast food chain mentioned before. After a short stint in jail she is released, goes finally to Niagara Falls and finds a more appropriate love interest.
Just kidding this is the story line for the movie Tammy. Just seeing who is reading this.
In actuality this is a nicely written YA time travel book, with a satisfying ending set in the 20's which is an era I enjoy.
Just kidding this is the story line for the movie Tammy. Just seeing who is reading this.
In actuality this is a nicely written YA time travel book, with a satisfying ending set in the 20's which is an era I enjoy.
February 6, 2017
Kind of a weird idea for a book, that could've been saved by a good writer, but seemed to kind of crash and burn in reality. The characters don't really have that much depth, and only partial back stories. Nothing is ever really described in detail, and the transitions are so quick you almost miss them. Lola Lundy is a poor main character, very ignorant and oblivious to people who are trying to help her. Third person omniscient, it didn't really work in the writer's advantage like it usually does. I didn't enjoy this book at all.
November 11, 2015
For full review please go to: 5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com, Twitter @camartinez and Facebook "5 Girls Book Reviews"
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 12 years, 11 months
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book was very moving!
My favorite character is Whoopsie because she knew what she wanted and went for it. She didn't back down from the challenge even when everyone was against her. She still went after her dream.
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 12 years, 11 months
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book was very moving!
My favorite character is Whoopsie because she knew what she wanted and went for it. She didn't back down from the challenge even when everyone was against her. She still went after her dream.
February 13, 2016
I love The Yearbook! A young adult time-travel romance with snappy writing, unexpected twists and, thankfully, not a vampire in sight. Carol Masciola has dreamed up a quirky cast of characters you will be rooting for, and chuckling with. This is a page-turner of a first noveI. I can’t wait to see what Masciola writes next! I only hope Whoopsie will have a cameo in it.
--Lori Basheda
--Lori Basheda
January 30, 2016
First of all, I love the cover. And also the 1920s flapper element. Lola Lundy may not be the brightest bulb, but she's got a lot of spunk. I was rooting for her from the very beginning. THE YEARBOOK is an unusual novel, written in a brisk, clean style. I enjoyed it very much.
January 26, 2016
Kind of a different take on the whole time traveling storyline.A girl looking to escape her life finds a new home and a place to fit in in the past.But is this really happening or a sign of mental illness. Though it bogged down a bit in the middle it's still a satisfying read.
March 18, 2016
Masciola’s debut YA novel is a touching story that takes the reader back in time, as well as into the mind of a troubled girl who battles mental illness. Beautiful and memorable, this novel will appeal to readers of all ages. Highly recommend.
November 23, 2016
what a little treasure! such a lovely read. I felt the heartbreak and love as if I was living in the book. I felt the weirdness of time travel too. this book reminds me of books I read growing up, the way it held my attention as most books for adults can't. fast read, and such fun!
April 25, 2016
A Greatt Read
Being interested in time travel my entire life, I couldn't dare pass this book aside. I loved it! A rational, scientific method is described. The only part I doubted was the Sunday shopping in a small town. Otherwise, it was a great read.
Being interested in time travel my entire life, I couldn't dare pass this book aside. I loved it! A rational, scientific method is described. The only part I doubted was the Sunday shopping in a small town. Otherwise, it was a great read.
May 10, 2016
A fresh take on time travel
I enjoyed this novel and the twist the author gives to the idea of time travel by a teenage girl. I also love the old lady character from the thrift store.
I enjoyed this novel and the twist the author gives to the idea of time travel by a teenage girl. I also love the old lady character from the thrift store.
November 12, 2016
Fun YA time-travel book. 16-year-old Lola Lundy's life is pretty complicated. Then one day while she is helping to clean up a room in her high school library, she falls asleep and wakes up in the same room in the fall of 1923... This was a fun, quick read!
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