In Girl on the Ferris Wheel, Julie Halpern and Len Vlahos expertly tackle this quirky and poignant romance that explores what first love really means―and how it sometimes hurts like hell.
Tenth graders Eliana and Dmitri could not be more different. He’s an outgoing, self-confident drummer in a punk band called Unexpected Turbulence. Eliana is introspective and thoughtful, and a movie buff who is living with depression.
Dmitri quite literally falls for Eliana when he sees her in gym class and slams into a classmate. The pair then navigate the ins and outs of first love. Exciting, scary, unexpected, and so much more difficult than they ever imagined. They say opposites attract, but they soon realize that there is so much they just don’t understand about each other. It begs the question: How long can first love possibly last when you’re so different?
How long can first love possibly last when you’re so different?
RECOGNITION
- Colorado Book Awards Finalist
- Illinois Reads Book Selection
BOOK DETAILS
- ISBN: 9781250169396
- Pages: 368 pages
- Age: 13 to 18
- Recommended Reading Level: 7th grade & up
- Publisher: Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends
- Publication Date: January 12, 2021
- YA/Young Adult/Teen
- Contemporary Romance
- Teen Depression
- Coming of Age
- First Love
- Greek culture
- Jewish culture
MEDIA
"“This one is packed with Feelings of how sometimes love is amazing and sometimes love is hell."
“A focus on cultural identities offers a delightful vehicle for an ensemble cast —- particularly Dmitri’s grandmother, Yia Yia, and Eliana’s best friend, Janina —- that spotlights personal growth.”
"A story of how friendship and love can grow together; recommended for YA collections."
"A focus on cultural identities offers a delightful vehicle for an ensemble cast—particularly Dmitri’s grandmother, Yia Yia, and Eliana’s best friend, Janina—that spotlights personal growth."
BLOG TOUR: Girl on the Ferris Wheel, Author Interview
BLOG TOUR: Girl on the Ferris Wheel, Author Interview
BLOG TOUR: Girl on the Ferris Wheel, Author Interview
REVIEWS
“With its mix of the heartwarming and heartbreaking, this will be a strong what’s-next for fans of Green’s Turtles All the Way Down.”
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Julie Halpern and Len Vlahos capture the truth of young love through protagonists who are individuals, with thoughts and dialogue that are both consistent with who they are. There is little exaggeration or gratuitous drama...The authors achieve a balance in evoking empathy for both characters, each one struggling to work through sadness and loss.
"Julie Halpern and Len Vlahos expertly tackle this quirky and poignant romance that explores what first love really means—and how it sometimes hurts like hell."
"Halpern and Vlahos pretty much nailed it. It’s written well and I greatly enjoyed it. There were moments that made me laugh, moments I could relate to, and moments that made me shake my head because I recalled those feelings so well."
"This is a really sweet and really genuine book...Growing, learning, and challenging yourself to do better...There is, thankfully, appropriate discussion on why it’s so important to understand that no one can fix you but you, so I applaud the authors for that...I found the book to be a very realistic take on first loves, family relationships, friendships, and growing up."
"A fast and read that leans more towards the younger audience of the YA genre. It shares a realistic take on the highs and lows of teenage life including navigating the treachery of high school and experiencing the cute-awkward moments of first love. I thought it had a good mental health rep for anxiety and depression in a young adult...A genuine story with funny moments and plenty of pop culture references (especially of HP)!
"Their teenage communication skills are so untrained that the development of their relationship makes for an interesting book, which on many occasions might even make you smile. (Fans of Harry Potter will especially love Eliana’s references to the series!) A quick read I enjoyed and would recommend for younger YA readers."
