THE DARLINGS ARE FOREVER

The themes of loss and change are explored throughout this tale of three best friends. Victoria, Jane and Natalya have grown up in the secluded world of their aptly named private school, One Room. On the eve of entering ninth grade at separate schools, this tight-knit trio makes a vow: that nothing will change among them. Soon, however, all three must face new challenges on their own. An aspiring actress, Jane is eager to prove her star quality at her performing-arts high school but gets sidelined by an inappropriate crush. Victoria is stunned to discover her actions will become fodder for the press when her father decides to run for the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, as the child of Russian immigrants, Natalya finds herself struggling to fit in with her wealthy peers as the scholarship student at her elite school. Should she use the reflected fame of Victoria’s father to garner new friendships? The third-person narration shifts from girl to girl as it sensitively explores their experiences. Kantor deftly handles the weighty topic of choice and personal responsibility in this thought-provoking tale. (Fiction. 12 & up)