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Description
For several weeks over the summer, fourteen-year-old Annabel's extended family gathers in Los Angeles, where Annabel must contend with step- and half-sisters and brothers and her own mother's failing second marriage.
Quick Summary
If you've ever felt like your family is a little more complicated than most, Annabel's story will definitely hit home. Fourteen-year-old Annabel spends a summer in Los Angeles with her whole blended family all those step and half siblings thrown together and it's chaotic in the best way. Rachel Cohn has this gift for making family drama feel messy and real, but also funny and warm at the same time. The thing that really makes this book stand out is how Annabel navigates not just the sibling chaos, but also watching her mom's marriage fall apart while trying to keep her own life from falling apart too. It's got that perfect balance of humor and heart that makes you laugh out loud one minute and feel things deeply the next. Fans of books like "The Great Beyond" or anyone who loves stories about complicated families will find a lot to love here. There's nothing too heavy or scary, but it does deal with real stuff like divorce and sibling rivalry, so it's great for kids who like stories that feel authentic to their own lives. It's one of those books that older middle schoolers will finish and immediately want to talk about, especially around the dinner table.