The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls

Gr 9 Up—This is the last summer that the four Garrett sisters will be together before they head into adulthood. The sisters must balance their personal wants, the obligations of family expectations, and the responsibilities that come with the illness of their grandmother. Kat is dealing with ex-boyfriend drama and starring in a play with said ex's new girlfriend. Bea and her longtime boyfriend are heading to college together, but she isn't sure if that's what she wants anymore. Vi has a crush on the girl next door who already has a boyfriend. Des is trying to decide between her dreams and the responsibility she has for her family. The narration switches among the sisters and follows the different perspectives of the same events. The characters are dynamic, each with her own coming-of-age issues and changing viewpoints. Because there are four story lines unfolding at the same time, there can be a lot of background information thrown into the narration—usually just stated and crudely established in a way that can be distracting. Sometimes the voices of the sisters are difficult to discern from one another.