Kiss Me Again

Gr 8–10—As this sequel to If We Kiss (HarperCollins, 2005) opens, Charlie and Kevin have shared a romantic kiss after the wedding of their parents. Charlie is a realistic 14-year-old, vacillating between maturity and childishness with ease and believability. Her awkwardness and growing pains in dealing with friendships, a re-formed family, and romantic relationships provide sufficient tension and interest. Kevin can seem too smooth and mature to be a high school freshman, but the flirting and friendship between the stepsiblings is generally believable. Lots of humor and the realistic portrayal of family interactions help overcome slight flaws in secondary character development and occasional inadequately explained references to situations from the previous title. Although the ending feels somewhat rushed, there is a sense of closure that still leaves open the possibility of a follow-up novel. A teen-friendly romance without sexual references.—Natasha Forrester, Multnomah County Library, OR