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★ "Told via Natalie’s witty and organic first-person voice, this exhilarating novel is many things: an homage to a lost friend, a spine-tingling ghost tale, and a sweet, budding love story."

Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "By turns funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful, Turk's sophomore novel deftly handles the complexities of grief, the possibilities of the universe, and the power of belief."

Booklist, starred review

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★ "Turk blends supernatural elements with a sweet, gentle romance and a moving exploration of grief in this story that’s also infused with hope."

School Library Journal, starred review

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Natalie and Imogen are inseparable, and wildly different—Imogen is infuriatingly humble and incredibly intelligent, while Natalie is brave, jumping into danger and new adventures. Still, one thing ties them together: their love of the supernatural. Every summer, they vacation with their parents at the famously haunted Harlow Hotel. Imogen is a true believer, while Natalie sees ghost stories as nothing but pure fun.

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Then, Imogen suddenly passes away from an undiagnosed heart condition that no one saw coming, and Natalie is left to take on the summer before senior year alone.

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Without Imogen, Natalie throws herself into her senior project. Her passion is still horror, so she plans to spend her summer back at The Harlow Hotel recording fun fake footage that will get her on the teen ghost hunting show of her dreams. And her plans would be a lot less complicated if Leander, her irritatingly attractive arch rival from school, wasn’t working on his senior project at the very same hotel.

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The longer Natalie stays at the Harlow Hotel, the more she realizes that Leander might be helpful for her project. After all, she could use an extra hand to help record her fake footage.

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But, when strange things start happening at the Harlow, Natalie wonders, could there really be something to these ghosts after all?

Readers of Emily X.R. Pan, Nina LaCour, and Dustin Thao will fall for this story that explores what it means to believe—in ghosts, in the people you love, and in yourself.

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*YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2022 Selection

*Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year List

 

Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but then a terrifying fall shatters her leg—and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it.

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After a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and binging ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school, where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected—namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive castmate she just might be falling for.

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But to move forward, Alina must make peace with her past and face the racism she experienced in the dance industry. She wonders what it means to yearn for ballet—something so beautiful, yet so broken. And as broken as she feels, can she ever open her heart to someone else?

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Touching, romantic, and peppered with humor, this debut novel explores the tenuousness of perfectionism, the possibilities of change, and the importance of raising your voice.

Praise for The Other Side of Perfect

"Turk brings intelligence and dimension...to this familiar story of the teenaged dancer who hits a diversion...with a cast where everybody gets real dimension" -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

 

"A love story with a refreshing focus on confronting systematic racism" -- Kirkus

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"...persuasive and winning" -- Publisher's Weekly

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"Turk's voice shines" --Buzzfeed

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“A strong portrayal of musical theater, ballet, the arts, and ­culture all merged into a coming-of-age story that will resonate with teens" -- School Library Journal

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“Debut novelist Turk writes with a great deal of nuance….A well-choreographed story of hope, resilience, and personal growth” -- Booklist

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"Beautifully written, funny, and heartfelt, The Other Side of Perfect is a must-read debut. Alina is a character to cheer for and cherish." -- Emma Mills, author of First & Then and Lucky Caller

 

“A captivating story of love, loss, identity and rediscovering your truth. Perfectly en pointe!” -- Wai Chim, author of The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling     

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“A nuanced exploration of shattered dreams and new beginnings. Full of pain and beauty, like the best ballet.” -- Jenna Guillaume, author of What I Like About Me and You Were Made For Me.

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The Other Side of Perfect is available or forthcoming in Australia, Bulgaria, Germany, New Zealand, and Spain!

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