Last Night At The Circle Cinema

(Hardback)

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Description

Olivia, Bertucci, and Codman are a trioan impenetrable triangle of friendship. Beyond friendship, they share a love of the Circle Cinema, a once-thriving movie theater now facing the wrecking ball, about to be forgotten foreverwhich is, as far as Olivia and Codman can tell, what's going to happen to them after graduation.



Bertucci convinces Olivia and Codman to spend their last night before graduation locked inside the cinema's concrete walls. None of them can open the box before sunrise. The trio is then forced to face their secrets, the events of the past year, and whatever is to come when the new day dawns.

Reviews

"Best friends Bertucci, Codman, and Olivia are gearing up for the end of their high school careers. Graduation is only one day away and none of them know what the future holds, especially since they will all be away from one another for the first time since they met freshman year. There are so many secrets, feelings, and experiences shared between the three of them that they aren't quite sure how to make it on their own. Bertucci--the intelligent and tortured prankster--has one last hurrah planned. They must spend the entire night before commencement inside the recently shuttered Circle Cinema, a local movie theater. No one can leave before the break of dawn, and it is in this abandoned theater that they will confront their greatest fears, admit their mistakes, and hopefully see a future beyond high school. This sentimental read is perfect for teens who are either leaving high school behind or looking to their own future with uncertain eyes. The book moves from narrator to narrator, offering readers an in-depth look at all the troubles, struggles, and accomplishments the protagonists went through from each character's point of view. Olivia, Bertucci, and Codman are all well-developed, realistic, and likable. A surprise ending will put the whole story and the protagonists' struggles into perspective. VERDICT: A sweet and wonderful tale that will get teens thinking about their own futures and friendships."--School Library Journal

"Wanting one last hurrah before graduating and going their separate ways, three friends break into the recently boarded-up cinema that was once a prominent fixture of their impenetrable trio. They must stay until morning, a decision that forces them to confront each other and work out difficult truths. This turns out to be much more than resolving the uncomfortable love triangle that exists between Olivia, Codman, and Bertucci, or coming to terms with their hopes and fears for the future. On the surface, this contemporary novel is a smart, quirky examination of these teens' innermost lives, but Franklin relies on narrative trickery, withholding key facts and threading the characters' reminisces of their shared past with their present, to obscure the actual purpose of the night. The clues are there for careful readers and are meticulously arranged, but the final reveal feels artificial. However, Franklin captures the uncertain thrill of being on the cusp of a major change and the intensity of teenage friendships, and the ending, win or lose, will provoke discussion."--Booklist

Author Bio

Emily Franklin is the author of more than a dozen young adult books. She lives with her husband, four kids, and an enormous dog outside of Boston, Massachusetts.