Deb Caletti's Blog

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing, my newest YA novel, is coming on September 13th! And it has FIVE STARRED REVIEWS!

★ "This gorgeous coming-of-age novel...deftly and empathetically engages head-on with anxiety….An epic tale of life, love, and identity." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Caletti’s bighearted novel, which endorses the wonders of being present . . . uses two seemingly perpendicular voyages to expertly navigate themes of belonging, connection, family, and identity" —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Through this novel about overcoming fear and expectations, Caletti examines what makes a person—is it their DNA, their lived experiences, or the family who raised them?" —SLJ, starred review

★"[A] heartwarming and authentic story that's packed with a collage of well-researched detail, people, and themes....will find itself right at home in collections with strong contemporary YA."
—Booklist, starred review

★ "Caletti’s sophisticated, intricate storytelling brings complexity and richness...Both deeply introspective and profoundly engaged with the world, making for a novel that embraces imperfection and inspires empathy." —Bookpage, starred review

"A rich, contemplative story about looking beneath the (literal and figurative) surface to find love, purpose, and joy." —The Horn Book Review

Wow. I can't believe it! Girl, Unframed just got its SEVENTH starred review, this time from BookPage! Huge gratitude.

Unbelievable! Girl, Unframed just got its SIXTH starred review, this time from Shelf Awareness!!

WOW! Girl, Unframed just got its FIFTH starred review, this time from School Library Journal: “Caletti’s novel is a brilliant coming-of-age story wrapped in a page-turning thriller. The atmospheric San Francisco setting enhances the overall moodiness, anxiety, and restlessness of a young woman moving from girlhood to adulthood and finding herself under the male gaze for the first time. Caletti’s sharp, complex, well-drawn character will compel and delight readers. VERDICT Ultimately hopeful, this is one for fans of realistic contemporary dramas, with a side of mystery, and excellent writing throughout.”Girl, Unframed

Ce-le-brate! Girl, Unframed just got its FOURTH starred review, this time from BCCB: "The plot is clearly inspired by the 1958 killing of Lana Turner’s abusive boyfriend by her daughter (Lila is also embarking on a role in Peyton Place, just as Turner did), but even readers unfamiliar with that saga will catch the clear danger and the ramping up of tension here (chapters even open with references to evidence as “exhibits”). Caletti uses the Turner incident as the scaffold for a gimlet-eyed examination of the vulnerability of women and, especially, teen girls in the contemporary world; of their objectification and agency and shame. She’s unerring in her depiction of the microaggressions Syd experiences, the family’s long history of domestic abuse, and of Jake himself, whose combination of likability, off-kilterness, and menace makes him plausible and plausibly difficult to leave for multiple reasons. This would partner superbly with Romanoff’s Look (BCCB 3/20) for an exploration of the world’s crippling scrutiny of and expectations for young women."

Great news in a weird time: Girl, Unframed just got a THIRD starred review! Big thanks to Publishers Weekly for this bit of lovely: “Caletti (A Heart in a Body in the World) offers a riveting, meticulously plotted mystery with plenty of drama alongside an exploration of objectification and the male gaze. San Francisco’s sandy beaches, unusual structures, and mysterious caves reflect Sydney’s feelings of loneliness, eeriness, and passion, and her eventual sense of power.”

Ahhh! Girl, Unframed gets a second starred review, an absolute beauty from Booklist. "Caletti is at the top of her game in this fully dimensional mystery... With a subtle, believable twist that encapsulates this particular mother/daughter relationship, Caletti delivers the near impossible: a page-turner grounded in thoughtful feminism. There are so many beautiful small touches, from the multiple meanings of the title to the sweet rituals Syd and Nicco develop to the importance of therapy to recover from trauma. Name recognition aside, this is a title deserving wide promotion and discussion.”

Yay! Kirkus gave Girl, Unframed a starred review! "Syd’s story outlines important, uncomfortable experiences many girls face without either flinching or offering a picture-perfect ending… A frank, engrossing examination of the ways society complicates young women’s burgeoning sexuality.”

So happy that A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD is now out in paperback with a beautiful new cover, and sporting that gorgeous Printz Honor medal. Ce-le-brate!

So thrilled and happy that A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD received its FOURTH starred review from BCCB, joining Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist!