The Darlings Are Forever

Gr 8—10—Actress Jane, brainy Natalya, and perpetual good-girl, Victoria, best friends for years, are now about to start their freshman year at different New York City schools. It's going to be an odd year: not only are they about to have experiences apart, but it's also the first year without Jane's beloved grandmother, who took them all over the city and advised them to "always do what you're afraid of doing." The Darlings—as Nana called them—take her advice to heart and challenge themselves: Jane auditions for the main stage production at her performing-arts high school despite the fact that roles almost never go to freshmen; Natalya falls in with the rich queen bees at her exclusive private school in spite of her doubts about their sincerity; Victoria struggles to break out of the shadow her older sister left at her prep school. Overcoming their fears might push them to be their best selves—but not listening to them can lead to trouble, even among best friends. More than their individual situations, Kantor's focus is on their friendship, and on the sometimes-painful process of growing apart while trying to deny that anything has changed. The shifting dynamic among the three is believable, given that they've never been without one another before. The girls are easy to care about, and the message—that true friendships can change and grow and still be maintained—will appeal to fans of Ann Brashares's "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series (Delacorte).—Brandy Danner, Wilmington Memorial Library, MA