From the Publisher
The sisters’ relationship—what pulls them apart, what draws them together—is the story’s beating heart. A well-told, universally human tale about teens discovering who they are, where they want to go, and how to get there. Wise, funny, [and a] thoroughly contemporary coming-of-age tale.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“The author of Who’s That Girl, Thornburgh offers a story that’s as witty, intelligent, and perceptive as its narrator. A rewarding novel that revolves around change, reflection, and, yes, sisterhood.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)
“A realistic depiction of siblinghood proves deeply dynamic as each falters and grows. Most of all, Thornburgh’s exploration of the power of social comedies and books by and about young women—works often deemed insignificant—shines. A funny, beguiling story of sisterhood, burgeoning self-awareness, and first love.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Thornburgh’s novel offers a charming riff on Sense and Sensibility. Readers will happily lose themselves in the warmly realistic family dynamics, the sisters’ laugh-out-loud banter, and the sweet, low-key romance. A smart, character-driven contemporary novel with a timeless feel. Highly recommended for all collections.” — School Library Journal
“A consistent joy for lovers of well-wroutght, understated prose.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
ALA Booklist (starred review)
The author of Who’s That Girl, Thornburgh offers a story that’s as witty, intelligent, and perceptive as its narrator. A rewarding novel that revolves around change, reflection, and, yes, sisterhood.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
A consistent joy for lovers of well-wroutght, understated prose.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
A consistent joy for lovers of well-wroutght, understated prose.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
A consistent joy for lovers of well-wroutght, understated prose.
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2019-03-07
Self-contained, responsible Plum, long eclipsed by her brilliant, exhausting older sister, Ginny, breaks free when domestic disasters reshape the family landscape.
The sisters' beloved Victorian home needs costly maintenance. That's not happening on their artist mother's teaching income and book royalties, even with a paying tenant. Their deceased father's life-insurance payout covers tuition at the girls' Philadelphia private school. Financial stress aside, the all-white, all-female trio, plus pets, is close-knit, though Ginny, a senior whose Ivy League hopes rest on winning a hefty scholarship, feels overwhelmed. Plum, 15—shy at school, assertive at home—soothes her, shouldering household tasks Ginny's too agitated or busy for and their distracted mother overlooks. As they're coping with a financial blow that coincides with a plumbing emergency, Ginny ditches her family for Thanksgiving. Feeling abandoned, Plum keeps her hesitant, fledging friendship with outgoing, popular Tate Kurokawa (implied biracial white Jewish/Japanese), her social opposite, secret. When she's hired to tutor Tate, their awkward, confusing affinity grows. The sisters' relationship—what pulls them apart, what draws them together when their connection is strained—is the story's beating heart. While there's romance, this is no pink-coded, Austen retread but a well-told, universally human—regardless of gender—tale about teens discovering who they are, where they want to go, and how to get there.
This wise, funny, thoroughly contemporary coming-of-age tale earns bonus points for acing the Bechdel test. (Fiction. 13-18)
