Read + Review: Never Evers by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison

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Mouse’s world seems to collapse when she is required to leave her ballet school, and her self-esteem seemingly deteriorates every second of her life. Without any alternative activities or interests to instill any inspiration in her, Mouse’s motivation is at an all-time low. However, her mother urges her to join her new school’s field trip to assist her with coming out of her shell. Unfortunately, she doesn’t really have a choice in the matter. Up in the mountains that are topped with snow, Mouse faces an exciting series of events with her two companions, Connie and Kiera, and a furry hamster that Connie managed to sneak in. Additionally, a romance begins to blossom between Mouse and Jack, the lead singer of a band without a name. Never Evers is a novel brimming with twists and turns happening both on and off the slopes.

The endearing moments between Mouse and Jack caused me to do everything within my power to suppress my squealing and giddiness due to their romance. What I found frustrating was the amount of time it took for the two realize how compatible they were together. Throughout the course of the novel, Mouse and Jack continued to be distracted by other love interests, but it frankly made their relationship more engrossing and interesting to read. Since the beginning, Mouse battles with her esteem and self-efficacy after hearing some not-so-nice words from Lauren, a girl who ceased to even interact with Mouse after finding out she was not accepted into ballet school. I could see myself in Mouse during moments when she felt down, which overwhelmed me with emotion. All-in-all, this novel emphasizes the significance of being yourself, which I personally believe is immensely important.

The most memorable event in the book is a conundrum that occurred in the beginning. Jack and one of his friends, Max, are invited to Lauren’s room, but when searching for it, they end up in Mouse, Connie, and Kiera’s room. The issue is that it was the middle of the night, and the ruckus they create cause an authority figure to come to settle the situation. I burst out laughing when Jack hid in the girls’ closet and encountered a certain “furry” friend, who was undoubtedly Connie’s hamster, Mr. Jambon.

Reviewed by Jessica C., Glen Allen Library