Untouchable

by Jennifer Waldvogel

Andie never considered herself a rebel…Before.

Before the humiliation.
Before the betrayal.
Before she lost her best friend.

Andie Mancini longs for the same things every seventeen-year old girl craves: late night laughter with her best friend, a sense of peace in the midst of high school chaos, and the knowledge that Life Beyond Graduation would be far cooler than Life Before.

Now…Andie can’t stem the feelings of anger toward the power players at Westlake Academy: the ones no one ever challenges because doing so is social suicide. After losing the connection that meant the most to her, Andie is ready to fight. Ready to confront the toxic culture poisoning her school.

Writing incendiary articles in her campus newspaper, disrupting a school assembly, and entering a male-dominated competition, Andie tries her best to shake things up at Westlake.

Only one thing seems to be standing in her way: the electric pull she can’t ignore from the newest student at Westlake. Tall, smart, and sexy in the most understated manner, Ethan Jameson throws her completely off course. Andie tries hard to ignore Ethan, to heed the warnings about his connection to the malicious Jared Bronson, but she’s torn by the compassion and confidence she sees in Ethan’s eyes. Most of all, Andie is determined to keep fighting because if she can conquer the war of the Super Elite and win back her heart in the process…she really will be Untouchable.

330 pages, Paperback

Published July 14, 2016

About the author

I grew up surrounded by stacks of irresistible fiction- thanks, Mom– and have been a writer at heart since the early days of Nancy Drew and The Babysitter’s Club. Reading and telling stories evolved into a deep curiosity about why people do what they do, so I ventured into the world of psychology and was not disappointed. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in Psych- orange & blue forever; go Illini! – I looked for a way to work in the least boring, ever dynamic, social justice-oriented place I could find…education!

That required a little more schooling 🙂 so I joined the teacher certification program at North Central College, and then later, Northern Illinois University‘s counseling program to learn everything I could about working with teenagers. I’ve enjoyed over 14 years in the high school English classroom, and now work as an instructional coach and teacher leader for my K-12 district. Every day is unique; working with students and their teachers will never get old.

I live in a lake community with the smartest person I know – my creative, adventurous, husband- along with our two bold, free-spirited, hilarious children who simultaneously set our world on fire and, well…set our world on fire. We love to travel, especially to the Florida Keys, and dabble in Foodie-ism and Craft Brew Drinkie-ism because what other hobbies require you to really indulge? I love spending the summers with my Tiny Dynamos because being a Mom is the greatest adventure in the whole wide world.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave Untouchable 4 stars and not because I personally know the author and think she is an incredible woman / badass.

Untouchable put me right back in the halls of Skyline High. I felt like I was right there with Andie, experiencing the teenage woes all over again. One of my favorite "scenes" in the novel was the last conversation between Andie and Veronica. I've been on both end of this conversation -the heart wrenching let down from a best friend and the cold hard realization that I betrayed another's trust - and the emotions Jen describes are real and raw. In any other YA story, best friends would make up and frolic into the sunset together, forgetting all about the very real reason they stopped speaking in the first place. Throughout her senior year, Andie realizes the woman she has become without her trusty sidekick and I believe this is something we all come to terms with at some point in our lives.

Once I got started, I couldn't put Untouchable down. Bravo, Jen! Did I also mention this is her FIRST novel? She's rad.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept pulling me back in, I was so sad when it was over! I love novels that are told in such a way that you are piecing bits together throughout the book to uncover the full story. It’s hard as the reader to not find parts of yourself in Andie through her triumphs and adversities. Andie’s journey led the reader through the ups and downs of her friendships, high school experience, first loves, first hates, acceptance, and perseverance. Great young adult read that leaves the reader with the message to accept yourself for you and no one can bring you down. Highly recommend Untouchable!

[Joyous Cassidy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Jeanne Deichmueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so hard to put down! The story was very unpredictable always leaving me wanting more! Anyone that has gone (or is going) to high school can relate to the characters that Waldvogel has so thoughtfully created. Highly recommended to those that love the YA genre!

[Ruth Bolard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because it was written by a local author and friend of a friend. This is great YA fiction. Even though it was a bit young for me, I have it 4 stars for the young readers out there!