Paradise

Gr 9 Up—When 16-year-old Billie inherits the large seaside home that once belonged to her grandparents, her mom abandons their London flat and takes the teen and her little brother to Cornwall without a plan or money. Once there, Billie's mom's troubled past comes flooding back, overwhelming her. The teen must take responsibility for the household, managing what little money they have and getting a job. As she gets to know her new surroundings and meets a sweet guy named Danny, she starts to piece together her mom's dysfunctional history and the truth about her biological father, her uncle, and her grandparents. The complicated story of her family unfolds with twists and revelations that are both inspiring and sad. The off-season seaside town is appropriately bleak and unwelcoming, setting just the right tone for her emotional state, and learning to swim is the perfect metaphor to represent Billie's growth and awakening. Alternating perspectives add dramatic irony by letting readers in on secrets even before the protagonist has pieced them together. A quiet and emotional mystery, this thoughtful novel will suit smart and sensitive readers.—Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA