THE JULIET CLUB

Kate Sanderson isn’t exactly thrilled by the concept of “true love,” having been sadly disappointed by the one-and-only boyfriend of her 16-year life. But when she wins a writing contest to attend a Shakespeare seminar in Verona, Italy, romance seems to be around every twist and turn of its antique streets. Six high-school students—three American and three Italian—take part in the seminar. One daily task is to answer letters from the lovelorn that are sent to the tragic heroine Juliet from all over the world. As they respond to these letters and as they practice their roles for an end-of-summer performance of Romeo and Juliet, relationships form and change. Each character grows in new directions, challenging their preconceived notions of who they are, to whom they are attracted and what “true” love is really all about. As frothy as the foam on a cup of cappuccino, this is a perfect summer read for girls with a touch of romance in their hearts. (Fiction. 12 & up)