Gr 9 Up—Sarah's social transformation from someone with a small set of unique friends to the girlfriend of the most popular boy in school, Fry, results in an exciting but ultimately shallow set of experiences. Perhaps the final straw in her estrangement from not only her former friends but also her own interests and values is when she is arrested for the vandalism and destruction of the preserved summer cottage of the legendary poet, Rufus Baylor. As part of their restitution, the teenagers involved in the offenses must participate in a summer poetry course taught by the famous but aging poet. Rufus's presence in the town is almost magical. He turns apathetic teenagers into poets; changes Sarah's irresponsible and hostile father into a calmer, more receptive listener; and convinces the community to forgive the teens for ruining the idolized summer cottage. Rufus is not without his own demons and flaws, as Sarah learns while working with him on her poetry. Soon, she begins to question her relationship with Fry and considers revisiting her former passion for the theater. Her struggle with the decision to be true to herself is one that many teens will recognize. However, the pacing is slow, the characters are one-dimensional, and readers will see the ending coming long before it finally arrives.
VERDICT Collections that serve a club of aspiring teen poets may want this title to encourage their creativity and passion for the craft; otherwise, this is an additional purchase.
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