Wanderlove

Gr 9 Up—Bria Sandoval is a gifted 18-year-old who lives in Los Angeles. She has abandoned her art on the heels of a destructive relationship with egotistical Toby, with whom she competed for a coveted art-school placement and won. As therapy for her broken heart and disillusioned psyche, Bria signs up for a trip to Central America with the Global Vagabonds. When her fellow travelers turn out to be middle-aged, Bria impulsively goes off with two backpacker teens she meets in Guatemala. She is left alone with secretive and troubled Rowan when his sister leaves unexpectedly, and her journey of self-discovery and emotional recovery begins. Neither goody-goody (one goal of her trip is to have an utterly meaningless sexual relationship) nor bad girl, Bria is a strong, principled young woman. A very good, very accessible novel.—Nina Sachs, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME