★ “Told with such complete believability that the descent seems almost foregone, given the wounds that each has brought to the relationship. Jaskulka’s narrative explores the hows and whys of an abusive teenage relationship with heartbreaking honesty, and her delicate touch renders the dark story even more powerful.
Graceful. Searing. Haunting.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“The book is intense, much like the young couple’s relationship. Poetry perfectly captures the heightened emotions of first love. . . . The story is realistic, gripping, worrisome yet hopeful.”
VERDICT Give this to fans of Sonya Sones and Ellen Hopkins.
“The author’s terse poetic style suits their stilted emotions as girl and boy trudge through hardships in their homes and their own twisted bond.”
“The Lost Marble Notebook of Forgotten Girl & Random Boy is one of those books I wish I could travel back in time to give to fifteen-year-old me. It’s a lyrical, raw, and honest account of love, losing yourself, and finding your voice, and with it, your inner strength.”
—Stephanie Kuehnert, author of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone
“An original love story, arresting and beautiful. Heartbreakingly honest. At moments frightening, but ultimately hopeful.”
—Laura Whitcomb, author of A Certain Slant of Light
“Eloquent, lyrical, combustible, Marie Jaskulka’s debut verse novel will draw you into the world of two teens whose thoughts and words resonate with raw beauty, love, and obsession. Jaskulka reminds us that, deep down, we know when love is real, and when we find it—we find our power.”
Marie Jaskulka 