We Are Still Tornadoes

Gr 10 Up—Scott and Cath have been friends since they were children, having grown up across the street from each other. When Cath goes to college and Scott stays home to work at his dad's clothing store, they start writing letters. This novel is set in the 1980s, before the time of texting, FaceTime, and email. During their first year apart, the former neighbors help each other through family crisis, crazy roommates, a budding music career, and more. They quickly realize that despite life's twists and turns, they always have each other. Told via correspondence, this is a funny, warm, and realistic picture of a friendship that remains strong even with distance. The authors' collaboration is seamless, with the characters adding humor to this timely story that delicately examines the emotional turmoil of long-distance friendship. Hysterically funny, Scott, with his overuse of quotation marks and misspellings, in contrast to a more levelheaded Cath, will have readers laughing throughout. While not all of today's teens will comprehend the 1980s music references, they will relate to the deep bond that the two teens share.