By Sarah Dessen
Classification: YA Literature
Genre: Realistic fiction, chick lit
Age Level: 13+
Subjects: Friendship, mothers and daughters, self-discovery, teen pregnancy
Reader’s Annotation: In her first serious relationship and with her best friend pregnant, Halley needs to grow up quickly.
Summary: When Halley’s best friend Scarlett finds herself pregnant in the weeks following her boyfriend’s tragic death, Halley suddenly finds herself needing to be strong for the friend she used to lean on. And Halley needs to learn her own strength quickly, since her shady boyfriend Macon is pressuring her to have sex with him and encouraging Halley in behavior that strains the already tense relationship she has with her mother. Balancing family, school and her social life, Halley learns for the first time how tough it can be to reconcile who she is with who she wants to be.
Notes: The emotional depth of the characters is what makes this simple story shine. Halley is a very accessible and believable heroine. Content to be aware of—underage drinking, drug use.
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