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Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students




*A Little Wanting Song* by Cath Crowley- young adult book review
 
A Little Wanting Song
by Cath Crowley
Ages 14+ 272 pages Knopf June 2010 Hardcover    

It is a beautiful thing to raise teenagers who can entertain themselves in artistic ways rather than the myriad of ways that can get them in trouble. It is also a beautiful thing to raise a young woman with an intelligent mind who can also operate with wisdom in social circles and recognize loyalty in a true friend. Author Crowley shows us each of these scenarios in her main characters, Rose and Charlie.

Rose has lived next door to the local burger barn all of her life. Although she excels at science in school, she feels trapped in the small country town where she lives. A chance at a science scholarship to a school in the city raises Rose’s hopes that there may be life after burgers after all.

However, even though Rose’s parents are devoted to Rose, they are against her stepping out on her own so soon and prefer instead that she wait two years, until after high school graduation. Enter Charlie, a longtime acquaintance who was never friendly, who lives in the city.

Charlie lost her mother in a traffic accident and has relied for female support on her grandmother. Summers spent with her grandparents in a small country town gave her plenty of time for tweaking her musical talents but not much development of friendships. The only people her age seem to prefer to keep her at a distance.

When Charlie’s grandmother dies, she is left with a grandfather wrapped up in his own grief and a father who still mourns. Her attempt to get their attention has failed. When Rose seems to want to be her friend, Charlie believes this may be the best summer of her life. She has no idea what good things are coming her way, many of them in disguises she will have to unmask.

The road from teenager to adulthood is fraught with ditches, bumps, sometimes even landslides. Crowley delivers two strong female characters who can maneuver the obstacles and exit on the other side as young people of whom their parents can be proud.

A great story for upper middle grades and reluctant high school readers, A Little Wanting Song is also a good discussion starter for adults and their young teens.
 
Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students

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