Strangers Are Neighbors - Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan

The lives of three teens—Claire, Jasper, and Peter—are altered forever on September 11, 2001. Claire, a high school junior, has to get to her younger brother in his classroom. Jasper, a college sophomore from Brooklyn, wakes to his parents’ frantic calls from Korea, wondering if he’s okay. Peter, a classmate of Claire’s, has to make his way back to school as everything happens around him.

Here are three teens whose intertwining lives are reshaped by this catastrophic event. As each gets to know the other, their moments become wound around each other’s in a way that leads to new understandings, new friendships, and new levels of awareness for the world around them and the people close by.

David Levithan has written a novel of loss and grief, but also one of hope and redemption as his characters slowly learn to move forward in their lives, despite being changed forever. (from Goodreads)

I've become a recent lover of all books by David Levithan. For me, it all started with Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and they just keep getting better. 


Cover: Stunning. I think the blue lights with the New York Skyline are beautiful, but I have to remind myself of why they are there and all that has been lost. The picture is perfect and I couldn't imagine anything else for this book.

Favorite Line/Quote/Scene:  Late at night, Claire and Jasper are walking through the streets of Manhattan. "Do you know what I want to know?" she said. "I want to know why this is such a big part of me. I want to know why this thing that has happened to other people has happened so much to me. I keep looking for the lesson." (page 104) Claire is finally giving her voice to all of the thoughts in her head. She has wanted to talk to someone about what she thinks and what it all means(and wonders can any sense be made out of it), but she hasn't had the chance until she sees Jasper who is practically a stranger. 
  
I absolutely loved Love is the Higher Law which had me crying from the very beginning. David Levithan has provided a touching account of how three young adults deal with events during and after September 11th, 2001. From alternating perspectives, he explores the confusion, fear, and awareness of how this event will affect the rest of Claire, Jasper, and Peter's lives. He gives a voice to the thoughts that some people may be unwilling to let out.He  reminds us that even during our darkest times, there is hope and there is love.