Michael & Maria

Gr 10 Up—A summerlong relationship between an unlikely couple will have readers on the edge of their seats to see if their love can withstand their differences, including family drama and looming college decisions. The story is told from the points of view of Michael, hired help at his uncle's Montana ranch, and Maria, a rich girl spending her last summer before college at the establishment with her horse, Moonshine. The moment they meet leaves Maria short of breath and Michael seeing sparks. Teens will get swept up in the narrators' whirlwind summer romance. While the novel may seem like a typical teen love story line that lacks substance, it has added depth, integrating issues of mental health, death, and single parenthood. The book includes a touching sex scene. This stand-alone title is the first (of six) that will be published simultaneously and share the "He said, She said" format. They do not have to be read in any specific order. Fans of Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride (Viking, 2009) will appreciate this love story.