Jahn-Clough shows insight into Phoebe's developing personality.
—Kirkus Reviews A shy unpolished girl in the throes of growing up having something to offer to a fashion maven will be a welcome idea to the many girls for whom glamour and popularity seem as distant as the moon.
—School Library Journal Smoothly told, with feminist sensibilities and references to Grimms' Fairy Tales, this novel engages readers with a fully developed protagonist who demands sympathy from her reader.
—VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
Description
Phoebe Sharp has long red braids. She wears old beat-up sneakers and clothes from Goodwill. She lives with her father and brother on a small farm in Maine, where she reads fairy tales to her goats and snaps pictures with her Instamatic camera. Phoebe doesn’t have a single friend, never mind a boyfriend—that is, not until she meets Melita.
Melita arrives at the Sharps’ farm in a see-through T-shirt and strappy platform sandals that show off her drawn-on “tattoo.” With her caramel-colored skin, stylish clothes, and urban attitude, Melita seems as different from Phoebe as two teenage girls could be. Through the summer, the girls grow to know each other. As their friendship develops, confusing feelings also begin to emerge. Could their friendship be deepening into something more?
- Opposites Attract: One girl reads fairy tales to goats in rural Maine. The other arrives from the city with platform sandals, an urban attitude, and turns her world upside down.
- Friendship to Romance: As Phoebe and Melita spend an unforgettable summer together, their deep bond blossoms into something new, unexpected, and powerful.
- A Gentle Sapphic Story: A heartfelt exploration of discovering your identity and navigating the confusing, wonderful feelings you have for your best friend.
- City Girl, Country Girl: Experience a summer of culture clashes and deep connection, from the quiet of a Maine farm to the vibrant energy of New York City.
Genres
Pages192
Released2009
LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
ISBN9780547347868
SellerHarperCollins
About the author(s)
Lisa Jahn-Clough has written and illustrated many picture books for young children, including Alicia Has a Bad Day, My Friend and I, Missing Molly, and Simon and Molly Plus Hester. She is the author of the Green Light reader series Petal and Poppy and has published several young adult novels and a recent chapter book. She is associate professor of creative writing at Rowan University and also works as a mentor in the Hamline University Low-Residency MFA program in writing for children and young adults. You can find out more at lisajahnclough.com.
