THE LIE

Single-minded Norrie's entire world revolves around shutterbug Mark: During the school year, she took up photography and the yearbook to be near him; this summer, she's his partner snapping pictures of tourists on Maryland's beachfront. Her love is unrequited—until he sees her with a handsome older man, kindling his interest and starting the kind of summer romance most girls only dream about. Norrie's mistake is not admitting the ``handsome older man'' is her cousin's husband Brad, off- limits but a good pal. When Brad and Mark's paths cross, Norrie has to admit her ``lie'' and the relationship is off. Sonnenmark almost—but not quite—makes a point about Mark's shallowness: He liked Norrie only when she seemed sought after. Meanwhile, the breathless, teeny-bopper narration exhibits all the usual concerns of this age group—moaning about large hips, etc.—but the title is misleading: the ``lie'' is more a languishing misunderstanding, while its discovery is a foregone conclusion without impact. (Fiction. 12+)