Love Is The Higher Law

David Levithan's reputation has been on the rise after the film of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. His first novel since 2006 is a contemplative and heartfelt look at two teens who witness September 11th and one who sleeps through it. As he put it- "as the years passed, I realized that while there were some adult novels that talked about being in New York at that time, there were very few YA counterparts. Suddenly I felt the need to get it all down--to try to convey what it was like to be in that time and in that place before too much time had intervened."

Bestselling author David Levithan (Every Day; Boy Meets Boy; Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green) treats the tragic events of September 11th with care and compassion in this novel of loss and grief, but also of hope and redemption.

First there is a Before, and then there is an After. . . .

The lives of three teens-Claire, Jasper, and Peter-are altered forever on September 11, 2001. Claire, a high school junior, has to get to her younger brother in his classroom. Jasper, a college sophomore from Brooklyn, wakes to his parents' frantic calls from Korea, wondering if he's okay. Peter, a classmate of Claire's, has to make his way back to school as everything happens around him.

Here are three teens whose intertwining lives are reshaped by this catastrophic event. As each gets to know the other, their moments become wound around each other's in a way that leads to new understandings, new friendships, and new levels of awareness for the world around them and the people close by.

David Levithan has written a novel of loss and grief, but also one of hope and redemption aAs histhe characters slowly learn to move forward in their lives, despite being changed forever, one rule remains- love is indeed the higher law.

A MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD WINNER