A luminous YA love story that evokes Judy Blume's Forever for a new generation.
SarahโBean to her friends and familyโis an aspiring astronomer and champion mathlete. She lives behind her beloved telescope, with her head in the stars and her feet planted firmly on the ground. For as long as she can remember, she's also lived in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Scarlett.
But after a traumatic end to the school year, Sarah goes to Cape Cod for the summer with her family, determined to grow up. It's there that she meets gorgeous, older college boy Andrew. He sees her as the girl she wants to be. A girl like Scarlett. He thinks she's older, tooโand she doesn't correct him.
For Sarah, it's a summer of firsts. Before she knows what's happened, one little lie has transformed into something real. And by the end of August, she might have to choose between falling in love, and finding herself.
Fans of Jenny Han and Stephanie Perkins are destined to fall for this romantic and heartfelt coming-of-age novel about how life and love are impossible to predict.
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 UpโSarah has always been fine with living in the shadow of her sister, Scarlett, who has a larger-than-life persona. Between tracking the Comet Jolie and her boyfriend, Tucker, Sarah hardly notices that it is not exactly normal to be over-obsessed with science and to make handy lists for everything in one's life. She didn't even realize that Tucker has been spending less time with her. When he breaks up with her for one of the most popular girls in school, life seems unbearable. Sarah welcomes the opportunity to go with her family to Cape Cod and spend the summer with her Aunt Nancy. Here, she is determined to finally grow up, be more like her sisiter, and make her own choices. At the beach, while Sarah is channeling her "inner Scarlett," she meets Andrew, a gorgeous college boy. Soon, one little lie grows into a cacophony of problems. By the end of the summer, the protagonist is teetering between finding herself and falling in love. Maizel's writing is clear and concise, and has enough witty humor to keep pages turning. Readers will relate to Sarah and how her bad decisions lead to consequences that keep piling up around her. VERDICT With its themes of confidence and discovering one's true self, this summer romance is a great choice for teens.โBrittney Kosev, Dave Blair Elementary School, Farmers Branch, TX
Review
โThe romance between Sarah and Andrew is what first love is meant to be. A fine summer fling for a satisfying summer read.โ โ Kirkus Reviews
โWith its themes of confidence and discovering oneโs true self, this summer romance is a great choice for teens.โ โ School Library Journal
From the Back Cover
It's easy to watch the world from afar. But to fall in love you have to live in it.
Ever since Sarah was born, she's lived in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Scarlett. A budding astronomer, Sarah's days are devoted to math club and the boy she's loved since kindergarten, Tucker. Her nights are spent observing the vast universe through her Stargazer 5020.
Then Tucker breaks Sarah's heart, and she goes to Cape Cod for the summer with her family, ready for something big in her life to change. She doesn't want to live in the shadows anymore. She wants to be someone who shines. Someone like Scarlett.
She doesn't expect to meet Andrew. Gorgeous, college boy Andrew. Andrew pulls Sarah out from behind her telescope. He sees the girl she wants to be.
For Sarah, it's a summer of firsts. A summer of blazing comets and shooting stars. Before she knows what's happened, one little lie has transformed into something real. And by the end of August, she might have to choose between falling in love and finding herself.
About the Author
Rebecca Maizel hails from Rhode Island, where she teaches literature at her alma mater the Wheeler School. She tries not to force her students to read her books, though. Rebecca is the author of several published novels for young adults, and recently received an MFA in Writing for Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.