Come November, written by Katrin van Dam, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Rooney's mom is completely checked out. She has lost her job, again and has no motivation to secure another one. Her mom fervently believes she will be transported to another planet on Departure Day. She hopes Rooney and her younger brother Daniel will join her. She does everything in her power to convince them that life will be better after Departure Day. Rooney has zero desire to join the Next World Society or participate in Departure Day. Rooney unlike Daniel remembers what life was like before her mom joined the Next World Society. Her parents were still together and life was more normal. Those memories sustain her even when her mom’s poor choices jeopardize their meager lifestyle. Rooney sacrifices her position as editor on the school newspaper for her job. She needs to work more hours to pay the bills. Rooney is overwhelmed with being Daniel’s parental figure, balancing school and work. She decides their only hope lies in contacting her father to ask him for help. Rooney has had little contact with her dad since the divorce. He has moved on and rebuilt his life with a new wife and busy life in New York. She dreams of escaping to New York and attending Columbia University after graduation. Rooney’s desperation is buoyed by the hope she has that her mom will snap out of it before it’s too late. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Come November will resonate with readers who like Rooney are juggling complicated home lives along with the normal teenage stressors of dating relationships and school. Rooney is likeable but not perfect. Her brother Daniel has his own challenges which Rooney often glosses over or completely misses in her attempts to shelter him. He understands more than she realizes. The novel could be used in a psychology class or as a small group read in an English class. The intense subject matter is best suited for eighth grade and above. There is an episode of underage drinking and some romantic elements but nothing too salacious. Come November is an entertaining book that covers the heavier issues of mental illness, parental neglect and cults without preaching at the reader. I recommend this book for fans of the Vivian Apple series by Katie Coyle. It's a similar theme but not as dark.