From a Michael L. Printz Honor winner comes this bright, upbeat text that is perfect for a summer read. This is a story of the discovery of self of a young writer as well as the importance of seeing the small things in life and not taking them for granted.

While not modernizing or copying Jane Austen’s work, there are some simple parallels in themes that those who know her work would notice (i.e. the matchmaking of Emma, the love-hate nature of Pride and Prejudice, the waiting for a relationship of Persuasion). Also, it is sprinkled with characters from Jane Austen’s works (i.e. Miss. Bates teaches at the school, Ms. Maryanne teaches piano, etc.)

Juxtaposed next to these themes is a story set in a coastal town in Maine with a nod to climate change and what plankton really does for us. There is a bit of love, a bit of science, and a bit of family in this book. This is a book for book lovers and young writers. Female audiences in particular will enjoy this read.

Review of an Advance Reading Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Dial Books for Young Readers

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  5 religious exclamations.

Violence/Gore:  Threat of a hurricane; verbal thought elderly adult having a stroke; character almost falls from a tree/ledge, could have died; blood on palms; report of people who had drowned; verbal thoughts of–“we’re going to die, have brain damage, be washed away, get hypothermia”; minors break window; minors engage in food fight; damage to town from hurricane; mental thought ‘someone kill me now’; mental thought ‘sea wouldn’t care if it swallowed us’; adult stated ‘they could have died’; thought of how their experience was a scrape of death.

Sex/Nudity:  Hadn’t kissed a boy yet; girls draped over boys in the cafeteria; word ‘sexy’ referred to twice; flirtatious behavior – hands brushing against each other/touching; wondering if wanted to hold hands; adults kiss; adults hold hands.

Mature Subject Matter:

Divorce; custody battles.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Alcohol was being served at an event for adults only.