FICTION

Local Girl Swept Away

288p. ebook available. Adams Media/Merit. Jun. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781440589003.
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Gr 9 Up—When Lorna Trovato falls off a breakwater during a storm and is swept out to sea, her three best friends feel that the worst has happened and their lives will never be the same. Yet Jackie Silva's summer looks promising. She has two jobs she loves, she's regaining a childhood friendship, and she's making plans to apply to art school. Her friend Finn's mother is an arts administrator who has taken Jackie under her wing. What's more, whenever Jackie crosses paths with Cooper Thorne, the attractive assistant director of the art gallery, sparks fly and an underlying attraction begins to bubble to the surface. But a series of surprises regarding Lorna and Cooper tear Jackie's life apart again. Elements of tragedy, mystery, romance, and self-discovery are woven together effectively and fleshed out with memorable imagery, including the descriptions of Cape Cod and the image of Lorna's white jacket. Although readers are unlikely to be surprised by the revelations about which of Jackie's friends are dishonest, the plot does contain a number of unexpected twists and turns. All of the primary characters are complex and well-developed, from Lorna, who isn't nearly as strong as she seems, to Jackie's mother, who tries to be supportive but doesn't understand Jackie's college aspirations and artistic endeavors. The first couple of chapters feel choppy, but the pace evens out quickly.
VERDICT An enjoyable and thought-provoking read that is sure to appeal to many teens.

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