Best Friends, Bikinis and Other Summer Catastrophes
Alex has always know that her best friend and next door neighbor, Will, is always going to be there for her. That’s just how it’s always been. Until a girl from the pool named Rebekah comes over to them and says hi. Now Will is changing his clothes, restyling his hair and breaking all of their summer plans, and Alex is not happy about it.
Every summer, she and Will come up with a new challenge. This year, it’s a treehouse. Now Alex is grabbing summer jobs and keeping tabs on the new girl, hoping that by completing their treehouse, she can keep from losing her best friend and her summer from falling apart.
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Reviews
“Alex navigates not only her changing friendships but also her family dynamics, with her grandfather moving on after her beloved Nana's death. The characters are well developed, and nothing in Alex's journey is easily answered. Her inner voice and turmoil ring true as Alex moves from feeling like a kid to becoming a teen. A perfect choice about the emotional in-between experience for middleschoolers." - Booklist
2022-03-02
During the summer before eighth grade, Alex experiences challenging changes.
One day at the pool, her longtime best friend, Will, suddenly becomes interested in Rebekah, a popular, well-off girl from school. Alex starts to wonder about body image and wearing a bikini, like Rebekah does. She rejects Rebekah’s friendly overtures, not trusting that Rebekah might genuinely like her company, too. She resents Will’s efforts to attract Rebekah but also worries that Rebekah may be toying with Will’s affections. Alex is also upset about other aspects of her life. She feels that her mother, a busy therapist, expects too much in terms of household chores, caring for her younger brothers, and forcing her to take a babysitting class to get other jobs. Alex has a great relationship with her dad, however, and he helps her build a treehouse with Will, a project she hopes will keep Will away from Rebekah. Will and Alex must earn money to buy materials, industriously finding odd neighborhood jobs like painting and picking up dog poop. As the summer slips by, things improve on many fronts for Alex, from friendships to family relationships. Containing some limited dramatic tension, this realistic story about tween emotional swings reads easily and rings true. Characters in this suburban town are presumed White.
An enjoyable read about changing friendships and responsibilities. (Fiction. 10-13) - Kirkus Reviews
About
Published: May 17, 2022 (Simon & Schuster BFYR)
ISBN: 9781534485020
Page count: 256 pages
Age Range: 8-12 years