One Silver Summer

Gr 8 Up—Sass's life has been turned upside down with the recent death of her mother. Relocating from Brooklyn to Cornwall, England, Sass now lives with her Uncle David, a virtual stranger. Saddled with grief, the teen is looking for any kind of connection. She finds it as she learns to ride horses with the help of a local, Alex. Unbeknownst to Sass, Alex is not just a local boy who works in the stables. He is the son of the prince and princess of Wales, who are currently undergoing a paparazzi-plagued divorce. He is skeptical that Sass does not recognize him, but a tentative friendship develops between them despite his worries. Complications arise from a scorned classmate of Alex's and a gossip writer desperate for the latest scandal about the royal couple. Hickman excels at bringing Cornwall to life with her descriptions of the beaches and wild landscape. The growing bond between Sass and her uncle is realistically portrayed, with pitfalls and genuine emotional moments. Unfortunately, the evolving relationship between Sass and her princely love interest is less impressive, going from friendship to true love too quickly. The heroine, though originally from Brooklyn, seems completely British in her language and mannerisms. Characterization is thin and falls into stereotypes, particularly the meddling classmate.