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GIRLFRIEND MATERIAL by Melissa Kantor

GIRLFRIEND MATERIAL

by Melissa Kantor

Pub Date: May 5th, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4231-0849-8
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Kate’s dreams of a perfect summer are dashed when her mother announces that she is taking her from their home in Utah to stay at an old friend’s house on Cape Cod. While her mother receives the support she needs for her failing marriage, Kate has to fend for herself. She manages to make a few friends, find a job teaching tennis and meet Adam. At first Kate imagines a fun summer fling, but her feelings for Adam quickly become more complicated. Kate is simultaneously oblivious to the reality of her parents’ situation and completely sensitive to her own emotional life. While understandable and developmentally appropriate to a point, Kate’s obtuseness in the face of obvious evidence may well leave readers frustrated. Realistic dialogue and a quick pace keep the story lively, but uneven character development, unlikely plot twists and an overly familiar plot keep this from hitting its mark. (Fiction. 12 & up)