Love Bomb

Gr 7 Up—Betty Plum, named after the lead singer of her mom's favorite band, is in a bit of a pickle. She's fallen in love for the first time, with the new boy in school, Toby, and she's never even kissed anyone yet. Her mom died when Betty was just a toddler, so she's a bit confused and could use some motherly advice. She gets a few hints from the yearly letters her mom wrote for each of Betty's birthdays before she died of cancer. On her 15th birthday, Betty's dad tells her that this will be the last letter; Betty's mom died before she could write any more. Betty keeps putting off reading that last note, but when she does, her mom drops a bombshell—there are more letters hidden in the attic. Letters about when her mom had her first kiss and, most importantly, when she first fell in love. The teen thinks these will come in especially handy now that she thinks she might be falling in love. But things are complicated now that her dad is getting lovey-dovey with a yoga instructor. How is she going to figure out her own love life and come to terms with her dad's at the same time? This is a cute and fast read that is perfect for young teens; readers looking for a clean romance will not be disappointed. Although the basic story line is nothing new, Betty is an entertaining and humorous character. The novel is set in England, and Anglophiles will also find much to appreciate.