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McVoy, Terra Elan
8 Reviews
(3)
4-6
Fiona's parents recently divorced, and she hates her dad's new girlfriend--information she only shares with her diary and with her best friend, Cassie. When the diary is stolen and read out loud, Cassie learns some upsetting things and stops talking to Fiona. This strong coming-of-age story (companion to Drive Me Crazy) features a diverse group of fully developed characters and relatable themes.
Reviewer: Sian Gaetano
(4)
4-6
Lana and Cassie wouldn't choose to be friends, but when Cassie's grandmother marries Lana's grandfather they're thrown together, like it or not. Cassie's concern with popularity and Lana's cloying perfection are clichéd and exaggerated; nonetheless, their ultimate appreciation for each other (and themselves) is believable. The "honeymoon" road trip is an ideal setting to watch this unlikely group become a family.
Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum
(3)
YA
Competitive swimming rules Brynn's (The Summer of Firsts and Lasts) life, with school and friendship far in the back seat. After learning secrets about her deceased father and getting involved with a hot college swimmer, Brynn is pushed to reassess her extreme self-discipline. Readers will both admire the protagonist's athleticism and pity her obsessiveness in McVoy's story about personal growth and balancing priorities.
Reviewer: Sophie Williamson
(3)
YA
Nikki's boyfriend kills a man--and as the getaway driver, she was unknowingly complicit in the murder. After initially lying to the police, Nikki confesses; then she's arrested, sent to jail, and asked to testify against the man she loved. This is an unflinching (and explicit) portrait of a troubled teen whose all-consuming devotion to a criminal makes her one, too.
Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith
(3)
YA
Charlotte is used to hanging out with the guys in her band, so when the group has a falling out, she feels lost. She spends time with new people, but these friendships prove even more complex than her old ones, especially once Charlotte begins hanging out with girls. This is a thoughtful story about the changing and complicated nature of teenage relationships.
Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor
(3)
YA
Siblings Calla, Violet, and Daisy spend their summer at Camp Callanwolde experiencing first kisses, greater responsibilities, and new freedoms. Shifting narration allows ample time for each sister's experiences to take center stage. The nostalgia-tinged setting effectively complements the girls' emotions and their opportunities for personal growth as well as underscoring the together-while-apart bond of sisterhood.
Reviewer: Sophie Williamson
(3)
YA
Frequently uprooted, Camille arrives at a new school in the middle of her senior year and tries to stay detached, tired of making and leaving friends. A random kiss and its fallout connect her to Becca, the girlfriend of the boy Camille kissed. The two teens alternate narration of affecting verse chapters as they struggle toward separate realizations about friends, relationships, and future plans.
Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor
(3)
YA
At age twelve, Tabitha and her friends began wearing purity rings, a symbol of their vow to remain virgins until marriage. Now they're fifteen, and one girl admits she's broken the promise, polarizing the group and causing Tabitha to question her own relationships and beliefs. McVoy handles the topic capably, letting Tabitha grow through her struggles without providing easy answers.
Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith
8 reviews
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