Remember to Forget, Revised and Expanded

Following the tragic death of his girlfriend, Delia, Levi has refused to speak and can't seem to come out of his depression. He is plagued by depressive self-doubt. Desperate to make some positive change in his life, Levi's mother decides to send him to live with his father in Maine. Though the idea of moving from Australia to Maine seems completely daunting, Levi seems resigned to his fate.

Levi and his dad must learn to live together through resentment and misunderstanding. And then he meets Delilah, a girl who reminds him eerily of someone he lost.

ROYER, Ashley. Remember to Forget. 304p. ebook available. Blink. Apr. 2016.

Gr 9 Up -Seventeen-year-old Australian high school dropout Levi Harrison is anxious, depressed, and plagued by mood swings. His mom has no choice but to send Levi to Maine to live with the father he has not seen in three years, leaving behind best friend Caleb and all that Levi ever knew. The protagonist's destructive behavior continues until he meets Delilah, an employee at his new therapist's office, and Aiden, a kid from the neighborhood. Through the painstaking patience and kindness of his friends, the love and support of his parents, and the medication Levi has finally decided to consistently take, the teen gradually awakens to life again and overcomes the guilt that has held him captive since losing his girlfriend Delia six months prior in a car accident; she was texting him while driving. The author's use of italicized flashbacks and first-person narrative draws readers deeper into the protagonist's innermost thoughts. Strong secondary characters add to the work. References to Disney's Frozen and the Say Yes to the Dress TV show could date the book, but they are well worth the risk. -VERDICT A heartrending story of heartbreak, grief, compassion, resilience, and love. Highly recommended. -Susan Harris, Ridgeway High School, TN

Levi has refused to speak since the tragic death of his girlfriend, Delia, and can't seem to come out of his depression and hindering self-doubt. Desperate to make some positive change in Levi's life, his mother sends him to live with his father in Maine. Though the idea of moving from Australia to America seems completely daunting, Levi passively accepts his fate, but once he lands faces personal struggles and self-doubt at the same time he and his dad battle through resentment and misunderstanding. And then, while at therapy, Levi meets Delilah, a girl who eerily reminds him of someone he lost. 'Remember to Forget' by seventeen-year-old author Ashley Royer is a deftly crafted and compelling story from beginning to end. Due to be published and available to the reading public on April 5, 2016, 'Remember to Forget' is very highly recommended for both high school and community library YA Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that 'Remember to Forget' will also become available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Seventeen-year-old Australian high school dropout Levi Harrison is anxious, depressed, and plagued by mood swings. His mom has no choice but to send Levi to Maine to live with the father he has not seen in three years, leaving behind best friend Caleb and all that Levi ever knew. The protagonist’s destructive behavior continues until he meets Delilah, an employee at his new therapist’s office, and Aiden, a kid from the neighborhood. Through the painstaking patience and kindness of his friends, the love and support of his parents, and the medication Levi has finally decided to consistently take, the teen gradually awakens to life again and overcomes the guilt that has held him captive since losing his girlfriend Delia six months prior in a car accident; she was texting him while driving. The author’s use of italicized flashbacks and first-person narrative draws readers deeper into the protagonist’s innermost thoughts. Strong secondary characters add to the work. References to Disney’s Frozen and the Say Yes to the Dress TV show could date the book, but they are well worth the risk. ­VERDICT A heartrending story of heartbreak, grief, compassion, resilience, and love. Highly recommended.