A Universe of Coats

Girl in the Blue Coat was a compelling read.  I was quickly drawn to Hanneke: she is spunky and independent, which appeals to me as a female reader.  By setting the book in Holland, it is a non-traditional approach to WWII.
I teared up while reading it; my palms got sweaty and my heart raced.  It was easy to get invested in these characters and this story.  The plot twists were both natural and surprising.
I liked this book.  So much so, that I recommended it to two people before I had even finished it.  Neither of these people, however, were teenagers.  And I think that matters.


I read Holding Up the Universe in one day.  This feat is telling because I don't actually have that kind of time to commit to reading.  But I did anyway.
I was completely prepared to dislike this book because 1) I cannot stomach teenage romance  2) I want more for my students than reading teenage romance  3) I already liked Girl in the Blue Coat. 
But then.
I was intrigued by the effectiveness Jack's coping mechanisms.  I respected Niven's efforts to write Libby as a confident girl who defies stereotypes.  I found the romance unobtrusive to the characters' development.  I -- liked it.
This book is not without its issues: it has gratuitous swearing (but so do teenagers), the stock characters are a bit heavy handedly flat, the basic story arc feels predictable (though, what is the line between 'time-honoured' and 'iterative'?). 

I think, overall, that teenagers would like Holding Up the Universe.  I should say 'teenagers who are more reluctant readers' would like Holding Up the Universe.  Teenagers who are already avid readers may prefer Girl in the Blue Coat, but we already have them onside, don't we?