Sam & Ilsa's Last Hurrah

Gr 9 Up—Sam and Ilsa, twins in New York City about to graduate and head off into adulthood, plan one last delectable dinner party at their grandmother's rent-controlled deluxe apartment (while she's in Paris) before it is sold. Each is responsible for half of the guest list, and each has kept their half a secret. On each list are strangers, friends, exes, and more. Anxious Sam and rebellious Ilsa will come to terms with their plans for the future and for what might have been from the past. Should Sam push himself to leave his safe fortress in the city to pursue his musical dreams? Should Ilsa pass up on her chance at college to stay near home as a nanny? Teens will sympathize with the sensation of being on the brink of adulthood, and feeling as if the future hinges on the choices made in this one moment. Sam and Ilsa are well off, and their conversations and dinner parties seem a little pretentious. But the sincerity of the characters' emotions elevates the story. While the guests at the party are easily distinguishable, we really learn the most about Sam and Ilsa; by the end of this short novel, readers will cheer for the difficult choices they make.