Gr 9 Up—Penny Nelson lives a predictable life in a small Florida town. A low-key 17-year-old whose social life consists of time spent with her best friend, Faye, and boyfriend, Logan, she is content with the routine of helping out her widowed dad at their family-owned diner. When she secures a scholarship to a prestigious summer theater camp, Penny worries about the unfamiliar months ahead. Once she thrusts herself into the new program, however, she begins to look beyond the boundaries of her sheltered life. While working on her acting skills and mixing with other teens who share her passion, Penny starts to question her future plans to attend a local college, settle down with Logan, and run the family restaurant. Faced with her conflicting feelings, she is forced to contemplate how much she is willing to sacrifice for others. Though Gibaldi does not take risks with breaking out of the young adult formula, her straightforward, honest writing makes the story an engaging and enjoyable one. Theater is a main theme of Penny's life, but the novel's plot highlights the fact that it is possible for a teen to use any individual interest to carve out a niche within the intimidating world of high school cliques. The characters are well developed and provide believable interactions that touch on various social issues facing high school students.
VERDICT An easy read and a good choice for large YA collections.
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