Reviews
"In her YA debut, Doll skillfully integrates three alternating voices--especially Doris, with her gift for finding things--in a story threaded through with relationships and identities lost and found. Over the course of the summer, junk and treasures, both sentimental and real, pass through the shop; family history is reclaimed; and things, stories, and people find new places to belong." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Plenty of emotional baggage is unpacked in alternating narrative style in this deceptively weighty novel, particularly between Doris and Grant, who have a history together that rings true to the way peer dynamics often play out in small, insular communities . . . Teens who favor realistic fiction will find much to like here." -- Kirkus Reviews, "In her YA debut, Doll skillfully integrates three alternating voices--especially Doris, with her gift for finding things--in a story threaded through with relationships and identities lost and found. Over the course of the summer, junk and treasures, both sentimental and real, pass through the shop; family history is reclaimed; and things, stories, and people find new places to belong." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Plenty of emotional baggage is unpacked in alternating narrative style in this deceptively weighty novel, particularly between Doris and Grant, who have a history together that rings true to the way peer dynamics often play out in small, insular communities . . . Teens who favor realistic fiction will find much to like here." -- Kirkus Reviews "Nestled into this breezy book about friendship and love sits conversations on racism, religion, sexual assault, alcoholism, and life choices. The friendship among Nell, Doris, and Grant creates a safe place where the three of them can come to terms with issues and not be judged. The quirky store where they work sets the tone for the novel. VERDICT A great choice for fans of Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone ." -- School Library Journal "A testament to the restorative power of friendship, with an intriguing premise and setting that will inspire readers to come to terms with their own 'unclaimed baggage'." --Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life "Set against the lively landscape of modern day Alabama, three unlikely friends are thrown together for an unusual summer that is part adventure, part romance, part backyard treasure hunt. Sharply conceived and deeply felt, Jen Doll spins a story that details the intricate and surprising relationships of maverick Doris, free-spirited Nell, and troubled golden-boy Grant who wear their hearts--and will steal yours--on every page of this warm, funny, and wryly-observed novel." --Adele Griffin, author of the National Book Award Finalists Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be "The small-town Alabama teens I met in Jen Doll's stellar book have populated my mind and heart. This story will stay with you." --Melissa Walker, author of Unbreak My Heart and Small Town Sinners "UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE is equal parts tender, funny, and affirming. This tale of three small town teens and the quirky workplace that draws them together reminds readers that the universe has a way of bringing us the people we need most in our lives. I absolutely adored this book." --Jennifer Mathieu, author of Moxie "Jen Doll's writing is as full of surprise and treasure as the titular Unclaimed Baggage. I fell hard for Doris, Nell, and Grant, and their story that celebrates the discovery of true friendship." --Ava Dellaira, Love Letters to the Dead and In Search of Us, "In her YA debut, Doll skillfully integrates three alternating voices--especially Doris, with her gift for finding things--in a story threaded through with relationships and identities lost and found. Over the course of the summer, junk and treasures, both sentimental and real, pass through the shop; family history is reclaimed; and things, stories, and people find new places to belong." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Plenty of emotional baggage is unpacked in alternating narrative style in this deceptively weighty novel, particularly between Doris and Grant, who have a history together that rings true to the way peer dynamics often play out in small, insular communities . . . Teens who favor realistic fiction will find much to like here." -- Kirkus Reviews "Nestled into this breezy book about friendship and love sits conversations on racism, religion, sexual assault, alcoholism, and life choices. The friendship among Nell, Doris, and Grant creates a safe place where the three of them can come to terms with issues and not be judged. The quirky store where they work sets the tone for the novel. VERDICT A great choice for fans of Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone ." -- School Library Journal "A testament to the restorative power of friendship, with an intriguing premise and setting that will inspire readers to come to terms with their own 'unclaimed baggage'." --Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life "Set against the lively landscape of modern day Alabama, three unlikely friends are thrown together for an unusual summer that is part adventure, part romance, part backyard treasure hunt. Sharply conceived and deeply felt, Jen Doll spins a story that details the intricate and surprising relationships of maverick Doris, free-spirited Nell, and troubled golden-boy Grant who wear their hearts--and will steal yours--on every page of this warm, funny, and wryly-observed novel." --Adele Griffin, author of the National Book Award Finalists Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be "The small-town Alabama teens I met in Jen Doll's stellar book have populated my mind and heart. This story will stay with you." --Melissa Walker, author of Unbreak My Heart and Small Town Sinners "UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE is equal parts tender, funny, and affirming. This tale of three small town teens and the quirky workplace that draws them together reminds readers that the universe has a way of bringing us the people we need most in our lives. I absolutely adored this book." --Jennifer Mathieu, author of Moxie "Jen Doll's writing is as full of surprise and treasure as the titular Unclaimed Baggage. I fell hard for Doris, Nell, and Grant, and their story that celebrates the discovery of true friendship." --Ava Dellaira, Love Letters to the Dead and In Search of Us "Jen Doll's luminous, deeply felt debut novel Unclaimed Baggage will claim your heart as immediately as it claimed mine. Anyone who has felt out of step in her hometown, anyone who has felt like she was living in a constant state of culture shock despite never having left home, anyone carrying heavy bags, be they literal or emotional, will spark to this story of friendship, selfhood, and discovery of abandoned treasures." - Katherine Howe, New York Times bestselling author of Conversion, "In her YA debut, Doll skillfully integrates three alternating voices--especially Doris, with her gift for finding things--in a story threaded through with relationships and identities lost and found. Over the course of the summer, junk and treasures, both sentimental and real, pass through the shop; family history is reclaimed; and things, stories, and people find new places to belong." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review, "In her YA debut, Doll skillfully integrates three alternating voices--especially Doris, with her gift for finding things--in a story threaded through with relationships and identities lost and found. Over the course of the summer, junk and treasures, both sentimental and real, pass through the shop; family history is reclaimed; and things, stories, and people find new places to belong." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Doll deftly navigates difficult topics like alcoholism, sexual assault, and racism with a compassion for her characters and her audience, making for a deeply engaging read that beautifully balances life''s more profound moments with ones of levity and frivolity." -- Nylon "An infectious story about friendship, politics, and falling in (and out) of love." -- Entertainment Weekly "Plenty of emotional baggage is unpacked in alternating narrative style in this deceptively weighty novel, particularly between Doris and Grant, who have a history together that rings true to the way peer dynamics often play out in small, insular communities . . . Teens who favor realistic fiction will find much to like here." -- Kirkus Reviews "Nestled into this breezy book about friendship and love sits conversations on racism, religion, sexual assault, alcoholism, and life choices. The friendship among Nell, Doris, and Grant creates a safe place where the three of them can come to terms with issues and not be judged. The quirky store where they work sets the tone for the novel. VERDICT A great choice for fans of Morgan Matson''s Since You''ve Been Gone ." -- School Library Journal "This was a great book, and I highly recommend it for anyone of any age to read." -- The Decatur Daily "A testament to the restorative power of friendship, with an intriguing premise and setting that will inspire readers to come to terms with their own ''unclaimed baggage''." --Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life "Set against the lively landscape of modern day Alabama, three unlikely friends are thrown together for an unusual summer that is part adventure, part romance, part backyard treasure hunt. Sharply conceived and deeply felt, Jen Doll spins a story that details the intricate and surprising relationships of maverick Doris, free-spirited Nell, and troubled golden-boy Grant who wear their hearts--and will steal yours--on every page of this warm, funny, and wryly-observed novel." --Adele Griffin, author of the National Book Award Finalists Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be "The small-town Alabama teens I met in Jen Doll''s stellar book have populated my mind and heart. This story will stay with you." --Melissa Walker, author of Unbreak My Heart and Small Town Sinners "UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE is equal parts tender, funny, and affirming. This tale of three small town teens and the quirky workplace that draws them together reminds readers that the universe has a way of bringing us the people we need most in our lives. I absolutely adored this book." --Jennifer Mathieu, author of Moxie "Jen Doll''s writing is as full of surprise and treasure as the titular Unclaimed Baggage. I fell hard for Doris, Nell, and Grant, and their story that celebrates the discovery of true friendship." --Ava Dellaira, Love Letters to the Dead and In Search of Us "Jen Doll''s luminous, deeply felt debut novel Unclaimed Baggage will claim your heart as immediately as it claimed mine. Anyone who has felt out of step in her hometown, anyone who has felt like she was living in a constant state of culture shock despite never having left home, anyone carrying heavy bags, be they literal or emotional, will spark to this story of friendship, selfhood, and discovery of abandoned treasures." - Katherine Howe, New York Times bestselling author of Conversion
