Wild Blue Wonder

Gr 9 Up—Quinn's family camp in Maine has always been a magical place to connect with others. But the summer before her senior year of high school, a tragic boating accident occurs. When the water overcomes human physical strength, Quinn loses her best male friend Dylan, the desire to be a competitive swimmer, and her passion for camp all at once. She goes through life in a daze of grief. Through a combination of time, support from family and friends, the process of rebuilding a boat, a spark for the new boy in town named Alexander, and her love of science, Quinn finds herself again. The setting of the small town Winship, ME, is eloquently described, and the family's camp comes to vivid life as a character in its own right. Adolescents will relate to Quinn's coming of age and also her ability to let go of the past. As she learns to trust herself again, her friendship with Alexander gradually grows into romance. Her relationships with her grandmother Nana and her best friend Hana are well developed and show how important close friends and mentors can be to young people.