Forever Twelve

The Evers #1

by Stacy McAnulty

What if you were twelve for all of eternity? From the award-winning author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl comes a magical mystery about a group of kids who have been alive for hundreds of years.

At the elite West Archer Academy, all the students are gifted, but four are exceptional. Though the Evers look twelve, they're actually centuries old, possessing knowledge and talents that make them extraordinary. And boarding school is the perfect cover for their brilliance -- and their secret.

It's supposed to be a typical year in the anything-but-typical lives of these "kids" . . . until Ivy Stewart shows up. She resembles an Ever who went missing more than seventy years ago. And Ivy could be the key to unlocking their curse.

But ambitious Ivy is at West Archer to achieve her own extraordinary goals, and nothing will distract her. Or so she thinks! With the desperate Evers determined to find answers, and her former classmate -- and laid-back cool guy -- Ronan determined to protect her, Ivy soon finds herself swept up in a mystery ony she can solve.

Will her life be changed forever . . . and ever?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Fiction, School, Audiobook

368 pages, Library Binding

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, who’s also qualified to be a paleontologist (NOT REALLY), a correspondent for The Daily Show (why not), and a Green Bay Packer coach (totally!). She is the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Recipient for Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Her other picture books include Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, illustrated by David Litchfield; Brave and Beautiful, both illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite, illustrated by Edward Hemingway; and 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. She’s also authored the chapter book series Goldie Blox, based on the award-winning toys, and The Dino Files. Her debut middle grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, will publish in 2018. When not writing, Stacy likes to listen to NPR, bake triple-chocolate cupcakes, and eat triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 2 dogs, and 1 husband.

Reviews

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Ivy has one goal: to get through high schools as quickly as possible so she can go to a good college and become a supreme court justice like Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Ginsberg was motivational to Ivy's mother, who has recently passed away. Feeling that her own school won't help her reach this goal, Ivy takes the entrance exam for West Archer Academy, an exclusive boarding school her great grandmother Gigi attended. The exam is a bit odd; the answers are circled, but Ivy ignores them and puts in her own answers. Not only that, but she's approached by a girl named Abigale who thinks that Ivy looks familiar. Ivy gets in, and is excited even though it means being away from home. Her roommate is none other than Abigail, who shares astonishing news with her. We also meet new student Ronan, from Ivy's hometown, who has a secret. Like his mother, who works as a pyschic adviser, Ronan can see people's futures just by touching them. He was hoping to avoid this fate, but a few days after his 13th birthday, his skills made themselves known. Abigail quickly confides in Ivy the fact that she and several other students, including Tim, Dom, and Este, are hundreds of years old. They regenerate every night, so never age, and are never injured for long, although they can be killed. Ivy looks like Abigail's best friend, Grace, who decided 79 years ago to stop being immortal, and disappeared. Abigail hopes that Ivy can help her locate her friend. Being an "Ever" has a lot of problems. but West Archer Academy, and especially the librarian, Ms. Strange (who dresses "the way someone dressing like a librarian for Halloween would dress", a similar comment which has been made by my own students about my clothing!), who has kept their secret and helps them out by making sure they are readmitted every few years. Ivy's research is successful in locating Grace, but there are a lot of problems that go along with this identification. Este, who is responsible for the eternal tweendom of several of the Evers, doesn't want this information known, especially since Grace managed to short circuit her immortality and has aged considerably. When Ronan accidentally touches Ivy, he is alarmed to see great harm come to her, and tries to circumvent it. He can't, and circumstances occur that give more pressing reasons for both Abigail and Ivy to learn more about the Evers. Is it still safe for them to remain at West Archer Academy for book two in this projected duology?
Strengths: This had some great twists and turns within the well developed framework of the Evers mythos that were quite intriguing. Middle school students would completely believe that one of their classmates was immortal, or had psychic powers. While I wondered about the wisdom of having both the Evers and Ronan's psychic abilities in one book, the story eventually made it clear that they were intertwined. There's a good balance of friend drama, history, boarding school details, and deeper feelings of Something Evil that worked really well. There's definitely room for another story, but it's a relief to know that it's just one more book and not eight! The thing that I liked best was that the Evers had a solid feel for the pluses and minuses of immortality, but didn't all agree on one position. This sets it apart from books like Twilight or other vampire tales where the nuances of living for hundreds of years isn't really addressed. One detail that was somehow especially bittersweet was the fact that Abigail has two broken fingernails that never grow back, since the tweens always return overnight to exactly the way they were when they died. Luckily, none of them had a particularly noteworthy zit!
Weaknesses: I've been at my school for 25 years, and if the same students reappeared every ten years, there are several of us who would notice! It seemed like the Evers would have managed to retain some sort of adult manager over the years who could help, sort of like The Mennyms did in Sylvia Waugh's wonderful tales. Granted, this is more of an adult concern.
What I really think: Did you love Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting? Did you think long and hard about what your choice would be? Then you need this book! I can't think of another book that handles immortality in quite the same way, althought Saunders' The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop skirts around it. Definitely purchasing.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this could have used some editing to trim it down; the cover looks like there will be action, but there wasn’t until a bit at the end. Rowan’s psychic powers seemed random too. Maybe the next book will have more action, but will pass on this.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

With two separate types of "forever" problems happening in the same book, it seems, even in the realm of fantasy, too coincidental that both of the characters knew each other before acceptance into an elite middle school. However, I find myself wondering what will happen with these characters in the future. I hope that subsequent installments of the story can provide answers about the spider behind the web of deceit that has unfolded within the story.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Maine Student Book Award nominee for 2024-2025.The storyline is intriguing and would appeal to the target age group, but for the audience, the story should either have been shorter or moved at a faster pace.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fascinating book! However, I could see all the plot twists coming miles away, and some of the references felt kind of dated (like Subway Surfers and Fruit Ninja), even though the book came out and was set this year. But it was fun overall, and I would enjoy reading the sequel!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

[Ms. Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cliffhanger 😳 Please hurry on the sequel Stacy McAnulty!

[AuntieErrica (audiobooks=life) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book even though it wasn’t what I expected. The cover made me think there were action sequences, crime fighting, or a larger mission, but that’s not what panned out. Instead, this was a beautifully written middle grade novel about friendship.
Some of the main characters never age past 12 while two others are normal, every day kids. They end up in boarding school together and drama and friendships develop all while trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Grace in the 1940s.
A fun, quick read well worth five stars. I’m looking forward to the sequel in fall 2024.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Random thoughts:
Ronan misses capt crunch cereal described as brown-sugary deliciousness: does this refer to taste or color since it’s orange color?
Abigail would’ve done anything for big poofy bangs in the 80s
pg 101: “well, you haven’t even tried to help yet. Let’s save the can’t for after we put in a small amount of effort. sound good”
Ronan never root for dallas cowboys
Old generations rode bikes all day and no one knew where they were - I’m old !
What Abigail says about memories making a person and it could work with ivy’s mother: “ she’s not gone, and as long as I remember her, she never will be.”
Great ending - magical MG book
Will next one be title never 13?
Tuck everlasting vibes
Kate Messner vibes

[BiblioBrandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love an immortality storyline and I really enjoyed this one! The characters were all well-developed, and I particularly liked how Ronan was portrayed as a quiet presence and showed him struggling with his own talents. There were some fun historical facts sprinkled throughout (loved the history teacher asking students what they wanted to study). I'm excited for the second book in the series and curious to see if Ivy's mom will make an appearance. The book raises interesting questions about what it means to be human and forces you to consider what you would choose if given the option of immortality (for me, the answer is always yes!)

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The narrative is told from multiple points of view, mostly focusing on Ivy and Ronan. These two students have vastly different motivations for attending West Archer Academy and it’s helpful to know what they’re thinking. Ivy has her life goals planned out as she’ll eventually become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. She doesn’t want friends and other distractions to derail her plans. Ronan has never been a dedicated student but he wants to attend the boarding school where no one knows his mother is a psychic. The third point of view is from Abigail who is one of the Evers. She introduces the conflict that becomes the focus in the second half of the book. Abigail’s best friend disappeared decades ago and it seems Ivy bears a striking resemblance to her. There are a few other chapters with flashbacks to inform readers of events from decades or centuries ago.
The author slowly develops the topic of eternal life to help Ivy and readers accept the idea. There are mentions of character experiences that couldn’t have happened until Abigail reveals the truth to an unbelieving Ivy. Being immune to aging, diseases, and most injuries creates discussion about the topic of living forever. It may seem like an ideal concept for mortals but the Evers share a different viewpoint. They’ve experienced the downside of living eternally among humans who must die and a couple of the characters express some regret for their situations. This difficult mixture of feelings provides readers with food for thought about the possibility of living forever.
The character relationships add intrigue to the plot. The author mentions Abigail’s younger brother James but he’s absent for most of the plot. The two of them had a disagreement in the past but readers are left to wonder about the source of the problem. Abigail is also Ivy’s roommate and she enlists Ivy’s help in finding out what happened to her best friend Grace. Este is the “oldest” Ever and she displays great animosity toward Ivy. Ivy has no idea where the anger comes from but she avoids being near Este whenever she can. Ronan becomes closer to Ivy but he’s unaware of the Evers and the issues they’re dealing with. His importance in the plot is minimal until Ivy discovers a secret he’s hiding and asks him for help.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers will connect with Ivy’s character but the rest of them aren’t developed as much. Ronan is absent from most of the scenes involving the Evers and Abigail is mostly focused on finding Grace. Little is known about the other Evers until some secrets are shared toward the end of the book.
The final verdict:
Ivy’s challenging relationship with the Evers carries the story and readers will appreciate the difficulties that arise. The book addresses common thoughts about eternal life and may inspire readers to consider them too. Overall, this book is enjoyable and thought-provoking and I recommend you give it a shot.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t been able to connect with this author since The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. This is a sort of time travel story about a group of kids who were brought back to life on their death beds, the consequence being that they will never die. I wasn’t convinced.

Ivy is a smart, high-achieving 12-year-old determined to be accepted at a prestigious boarding school. Ronan wants to be accepted at the same boarding school, but only because he wants to escape the shadow of his psychic family. While touring the school, Abigail, a current student mistakes Ivy for a girl named Grace. Ivy is accepted into the school, and coincidentally, is assigned to a room with Abigail.

From here the plot falls apart and spirals into nonsense. Ronan realizes he can’t escape the psychic abilities of his family as he also develops the ability to see the future of anyone he touches. Ivy realizes Abigail and her friends are actually 100-300 years old and will never age or die. They re-enroll in the school every decade or so and just try to survive in the decades between. Ivy looks exactly like, Grace, Abigail’s best Ever friend who disappeared a long time ago. The main plot of the book is trying to find out the connection between Ivy and Grace.

The story is told in alternating perspectives of mostly Ivy, sometimes Ronan, and rarely Abigail. There are flashbacks to the 1800s to give us the story of how the Evers became immortal. Ivy and Ronan are not Evers. Ronan’s story is a total intrusion on the plot and simply complicates things. It didn’t need to be there and only ends up making the book way too long. Ivy being mistaken for the young version of her great-grandmother, Gigi, is a stretch and Gigi’s involvement in the plot felt like a misfire anyway. The story is one long ramble of ideas that never fully comes together. I am so glad to be finished and most definitely will not be reading a sequel.

The best book on immortality is Tuck Everlasting. My pick for 2025 is The Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I admit that it might sound like someone took the situation of the vampires in the Twilight saga and mixed it with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. What would you do if you looked twelve years old forever? How would you hide it from the world? Answer: move a lot and try to find safe havens that you can return to over time. But in the increasingly digital world of security cameras, facial recognition software, and folks from Child Protective Services on the lookout for unaccompanied minors - it gets harder every year to find such a place. A boarding school makes sense because you can live there, get your meals there, and have a peer group to blend into as camouflage. If you can finesse your way through not having any parents around on move-in day and set up some fake accounts for the school to contact your guardians long distance, you just might succeed.

Unfortunately for this group, a new student at their chosen home of West Archer Academy looks remarkably like a missing member of their family. She isn't the same person. She can't be a descendant because they don't age. So how is she such a match? Intrigue swirls as the group tries to find a connection or at least a reason for the resemblance, while the object of their interest is just trying to keep her head down and follow her planned path to reaching a Supreme Court appointment as quickly as possible. It doesn't help that another classmate from her former school seems to be developing odd powers and is determined to mix himself up in the situation.

I met author Stacy McAnulty at the Children's Festival of Reading in Knoxville, Tennessee this summer. She was delightful to talk to and her session on middle grade fiction was very enlightening, but she was careful not to let any spoilers slip. I couldn't wait to get a copy of the book and find out the answers for myself. Your middle grade readers who enjoy stories based in a school setting and those that involve mysteries or mysterious powers should have a wonderful time with this book.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific series opener!

Basic plot: The Evers are kids who have been granted regenerative properties that basically equals eternal life, but at a cost. They do not ever grow older and must constantly be searching for ways to support themselves, places to live and the when they make friends, they know that they will have to step out of their lives fairly quickly or risk someone noticing that they do not age, do not require food, only need a few hours sleep and have phenomenal memories and great strength (not the super hero kind, though). A group of Evers gather at a private school every decade for a year or two at their safe place. This year is different, though, because Grace disappeared during the last stint at West Archer and Abigail is certain that first year Ivy may be that missing friend or at least be a connection to her.

Literary merit: Creative premise that is well executed, keeps the reader on their toes and shows just how much plot planning must be done by authors. Clearly fantasy, yet author Stacy McAnulty’s characters are so well-developed and seem like such regular middle school kids with the usual doubts and dramas that the story almost seems believable. Main characters have distinctly different personalities, providing ample material for character studies should this book be done in a literature circle or novel study. Plenty of choices to be made by main characters and many ways those choices could impact individuals to large groups of people which means great discussion possible.

Book 1 publishes 10/3/23 and book 2 will arrive sometime in 2024 and both should be on library shelves for grades 5-8. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence making it appropriate for strong readers in earlier grades.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every middle grade novel Stacy McAnulty has written, and Forever Twelve was no exception.

When Ivy applies and is accepted to the prestigious West Archer Academy boarding school, she arrives with drive and a singular purpose -- to fulfill the dream of working her way to the highest court in the land, similar to her heroine, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This dream is especially important to Ivy because it is one that she shared with her mother before her mother died of cancer. Ivy sees it as a way to be the girl her mother would be proud of. What Ivy can't know is that she will have some distractions from her school work, and most of these revolve around her roommate, Abigail.

Abigail is obsessed with the fact that Ivy looks amazingly like her long-lost friend, Grace. Not only that, but Ivy soon learns that Abigail is one of the Evers - people who live forever and never age. Grace was also an Ever, and the last place Abigail saw her was at the West Archer Academy more than seventy years ago. She is convinced that there are answers to Grace's disappearance wrapped up in Ivy's story and history.

When you add in some other Evers also attending West Archer, and Ronan -- another West Archer student from Ivy's hometown who has recently learned he has psychic powers-- you end up with a mystery and a riveting story that kids will love!

The toughest thing for me is that the sequel to this book isn't due out until October 1, 2024 -- and I'm dying to know what will happen!

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

After acing their entrance exams, Ivy and Ronan get accepted to West Archer Academy, an elite boarding school for the gifted. Shortly after starting at the school, the two get two bombshells dropped on them. When Ronan turns 13, he inherits the family curse/gift of being psychic. Ivy learns that her roommate is a 217-year-old named Abigail. An ever transformed by Este, another ever at the school, Abigail never ages past the age of 12. Every 10 years to the school, Abigail returns to the school, hoping to solve the mystery of her friend, Grace’s disappearance in 1944. With Ivy’s eerie resemblance to Grace, Abigail is convinced that Ivy must be a descendant of her friend. As Ivy and Ronan’s experiences converge, Ivy tries to figure out what happened to Grace. What happened to Grace in 1944?
The plot is well-written, intriguing, and engaging. The characters are likable, well-developed, and draw the reader into the story. The world building is detailed and believable. With twists and turns throughout the book and a cliffhanger of an ending, readers will be eager to read the sequel when it comes out. Recommended for most library collections.

Please Note: A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No other compensation was received.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivy wants to get into a high-achieving boarding school so she can reach the dreams she shared with her mother before she passed away. Things don't quite go as planned, however, Her new roommate, Abigail is one of the "Evers", children who have been 12 for decades, and some for centuries. Ronan, a boy from Ivy's school, comes to the boarding school, too, in hopes his family's psychic gift will skip him - it doesn't. Ivy decides to help Abigail find the missing Ever, Grace, bringing in mystery, red herrings, and blackmail. Though the premise is interesting, the characters fell flat. Ivy and Ronan were the most believable, but there was little connection to the Evers besides the histories they can share. The book is told in multiple perspectives and there is a little humor, mainly around Ronan. The book leaves with a solid second book premise. The worldbuilding was lackluster and scenes didn't always play out in a way that felt like a solid end to a chapter or scene. Fans of oddball stories. Wasn't for me.

[Devin Redmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book. I’ll get to meet Stacy McAnulty tomorrow! She’s the Visiting Author for 3rd and 4th graders in the ICCSD and will be visiting all the kids in those grades.
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦, though, is probably better suited for 5th grade +, as are her other chapter books 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 and 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭. For the 3rd and 4th graders’ visit prep, we mostly focused on her nonfiction planet books.
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦 is McAnulty’s first foray into a fantasy novel. It was more serious (and darker) than I was expecting; the ending was a surprise and a cliffhanger.
Ivy is a very motivated student. She has her life plan already figured out, one she promised to achieve on her mom’s deathbed, and is thrilled when she gets accepted to the prestigious West Archer Academy. However, she is not prepared to meet a group of students, one of whom is Ivy’s roommate, who are immortal and stuck at the age of 12. Memory, family, and friendship are themes throughout the first book.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ivy wants to get into a high-achieving boarding school so she can reach the dreams she shared with her mother before she passed away. Things don't quite go as planned, however, Her new roommate, Abigail is one of the "Evers", children who have been 12 for decades, and some for centuries. Ronan, a boy from Ivy's school, comes to the boarding school, too, in hopes his family's psychic gift will skip him - it doesn't. Ivy decides to help Abigail find the missing Ever, Grace, bringing in mystery, red herrings, and blackmail. Though the premise is interesting, the characters fell flat. Ivy and Ronan were the most believable, but there was little connection to the Evers besides the histories they can share. The book is told in multiple perspectives and there is a little humor, mainly around Ronan. The book leaves with a solid second book premise. The worldbuilding was lackluster and scenes didn't always play out in a way that felt like a solid end to a chapter or scene. Fans of oddball stories. Wasn't for me.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy wants to get through middle school and high school as quickly as possible, to stay on track to become a supreme court justice like her idol, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She applies and is accepted to West Archer, a boarding school that will allow her to graduate at an accelerated rate. Ivy is greeted enthusiastically by Abigail (who becomes her roommate), because Abigail sees an uncanny resemblance in Ivy to her old friend Grace. Abigail is an Ever -- she never ages, heals quickly from all injuries, doesn't need food, barely sleeps. There are several Evers at West Archer. Abigail is convinced that Ivy must have a connection to Grace (who disappeared in 1944) and together they set out to uncover the mystery. This is a great twist on a magical boarding school story (the school is not magic)! Warning, it does end on a cliff hanger, so you are going to want to have the next book ready.
Recommended for grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique take on immortality and the ramifications that come with it.

Each chapter was written in a different characters voice which made it easier to understand where each one was coming from, especially the not so lovable characters. I enjoyed how the author connected the main protagonist to the immortal characters. She also did a great job on issues like Dementia, familial loss, friendship and it's issues, and moral challenges faced by the characters.

I really enjoyed this book and honestly, did not expect it to end the way it did! I should have seen the ending coming!

I look forward to reading more about these characters and their journey together!

I received this free ARC from Random House Children's & Netgalley for my honest review.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy has goals. Big ones. Ronan has no goals except to get by with doing the least amount possible. The two of them end up at the elite West Archer Academy and their lives change forever. When Ivy is mistaken for someone else, and Ronan is horrified to realize he does carry mother's psychic gene, they are introduced to another group of kids whose backgrounds are mysterious.

Excellent first book in a new series! I think this is going to be one in which McAnulty is not gong to be able to write fast enough for those of us waiting for what's next. Just the right amount of "magic," mixed with relatable characters and space to wonder "what if" make this a great addition to upper and middle grade library collections.

[Karen]

Ivy is excited to attend a prestigious boarding school and has plans to graduate in two years so she can get on with her college/law school/supreme court life goals. When she visits campus, a student comes running over to her calling her Grace and when she arrives on campus this same student is her new roommate. Grace’s roommate Gail has quite a story – she tells Ivy that Ivy looks just like her long-lost best friend Grace who she hasn’t seen in over 70 (!) years. She then tells Ivy that she has been 12 years old for over 200 years! Gail is hoping Ivy can help Gail find Grace. Meanwhile Ivy’s classmate Ronan also transfers to boarding school and he has secrets of his own. Hopefully the start of an exciting, new series.

[Jaime Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. Not a perfect read but it had me hooked and I really enjoyed the execution. Is more of a character analysis and moral discussion than the action book the cover seems to promise. The audiobook narrator was fantastic. I liked all the characters, especially Ivy, Abigail, and Ronan (although his story often felt more disjointed from the others). I'm definitely picking up the next one and likely The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl.
The book does focus heavily on the theme of dementia and memory loss, featuring Ivys Great Grandmother who has dementia. It was hard to read at times, with a current family member of mine also struggling with dementia. So just a heads up about that - especially if you're reading with your kiddos.

[Chrissy Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy wants to go to West Archer Academy, so she can graduate early and go on to be a judge. Ronan goes on a whim and ends up getting accepted. He comes from a family of psychic, which he inherits & can tell when a person has danger in the future. Abigail is Ivy roommate and tell her that she is actually old, but will be forever 12. This book has lots of twists and turns. I love how each chapter is a different character and their story and/or perspective.

I love Stacy McAnulty books and this one does not disappoint! The only thing I don't like is I have to wait a bit for the next book in the series. I can't wait to share this one with others!!

[Donna Yliniemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this middle-grade science fiction book about kids who are saved from death but are forever twelve years old. It is set in a modern school environment but the Evers are hundreds of years old and have to fit into a new environment often so people don't realize they never get older. It was a fun book to follow and it ended on a cliffhanger so I am assuming another book will follow. I did enjoy it but it was very forgettable to me so I couldn't give it more than 4 stars. Maybe I have been reading too many books because that is unusual for me to totally forget what the story was about without reading another reviewer's notes.

[Jade Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️
This was such an interesting read that I found myself unable to put down. It was reminding me a lot of Tuck Everlasting, but it also set up a lot of questions that I’m yearning to know. Hopefully it’ll be answered in book two.
This story was cute, I especially like Ronan and Ivy, but it also presented some interesting ideas and topics. I think this was a fun middle grade book that can be enjoyed at any age. It especially would be a great companion to Tuck Everlasting if any parent or teacher are hoping to share that classic with their kids.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children's for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

[Jessica_loves_books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Miscalculations of Lightning Girl-unfortunately the magic was not replicated with this sci-fi middle grade novel. This book tells the story of Ivy, a ambitious 12 year old who longs to finish high school in two years, attend Duke and eventually emulate RBG, her idol. The story takes place at a boarding school where she befriends Abigail, who is an "Ever." In a story more convoluted than it needs to be, Ivy seeks to help Abigail solve the mystery of a missing "Ever" whom Ivy resembles. I found this story circuitous and too drawn out. That said, for those looking for a bit of supernatural, perhaps this is the book for them.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Ivy is determined to do well at a prestigious boarding school as it is the first step to her plans to become a Supreme Court Justice one day. However, she does not realize that there is a group of students at the school, including her room-mate, who have all been stuck at the age of twelve and have lived for many, many years. Ivy becomes caught up with them and the mystery of their missing friend.
Give this to your students who like that mystery with a twist of sci-fi/fantasy. If they liked McAnulty's other books, this is sure to please as well. I found it to be a bit predictable - but that isn't necessarily a bad thing
CW: grief/loss/missing parent

[Katrina Tangen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing and the characters, but it’s nothing like the action-adventure cover implies. It’s much more low key and character driven. Apparently it’s a duology. I think it must have been one book originally that they split into two, because one of the things in the blurb doesn’t happen until the 80% mark! It would make more sense as the midway point. I definitely want to read the second one because hopefully that’s where the story really gets going. But that means this one is kind of a really long prologue.

[Sara Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of the story gives you a little glimpse into what would have happened if Winnie lived in 2023 drank from the spring. And went to a boarding school. And had a friend who might be a psychic. So, there's a lot going on. I found the story and the characters compelling, but the pacing felt a bit off to me - dragged a bit in the middle and then raced at breakneck speed to the end. And, this book is for kids who love a series. There is some resolution at the end, but also strong set up for Book 2, coming later in 2024.