The Summer of No Regrets

Gr 8–10—The homeschooled daughter of a quirky family that runs a spiritual retreat center, Brigitta is an outsider in Kwahnesum, Washington, and she is on a continuing quest to find God by learning about different religions. Although she and her friend Natalie have a huge case of celebrity worship, Brigitta keeps that part of herself private. When she literally falls into the lap of her new neighbor, Luke, who is a dead ringer for the hottest teen celebrity, Trent Yves, Natalie is convinced that he really is Trent and sets out to get to know him. After Brigitta saves Luke from a cougar attack, they begin a secret relationship. The cougar is ultimately killed, leaving behind two cubs that Brigitta and Luke feed. He is unreliable and mysterious, which has Brigitta questioning whether or not he really is Trent. While some plot elements are interesting, there are too many threads, and none is developed in any significant way.—Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ