P.S. I Miss You

Gr 4–7—Eleven-year-old Evie's world is shaken when her teenage sister Cilla becomes pregnant. Rather than stay and face her strict Catholic parents' reaction, Cilla goes away to give birth. After she places her child up for adoption, Cilla attends a boarding school. Evie misses Cilla terribly and writes to her regularly, which provides the epistolary format for the book. Seventh grade is a challenging time for Evie; her best friends seem more interested in performing in the school play and trying to get boyfriends than in being supportive. Only Evie's new friend June provides solace. June is unlike anyone Evie has ever known. She comes from a family of atheists and openly talks about girls she thinks are cute. As Evie starts to wonder if she and June could be more than just friends, she finds she needs her big sister's advice. Unfortunately, Cilla seems unwilling to respond to any of Evie's letters or to come home for school breaks. The emotional conclusion will resonate with middle school fans of contemporary realistic fiction.