When Jill’s father dies, her
mother decides to adopt a baby from a pregnant teen whom she meets through an online
website while they are still newly mourning.
Jill thinks it’s a bad idea and when Mandy comes to live with them in
Colorado, Jill and her mother discover that certain details about the pregnancy
were not told truthfully. Jill is
convinced that she needs to hire the intriguing R.J. Desai, a former high school
classmate and Loss Prevention Associate for the bookstore where she works, to
investigate and prove that Mandy is not trust-worthy. Jill,
who had become withdrawn from her friends after her father’s
death, finds a new sense of purpose with this endeavor as well as a way to begin to connect to people who are still living again. In the process, she becomes
surprised by the turn of events and what she learns not only about Mandy, but
also about herself.
On the other hand, Mandy is
trying to find salvation for her baby with a family who will not only want, but
love and care for her – something her own mother was unable to give her. However, this outcome would leave Mandy alone
in the world without a familial bond. As Mandy’s feelings for her unborn child
grow, she not only questions if this is the best decision for her baby, but
also who will save her or if she can
save herself.
Told through alternating
chapters of narrating voices by the two teen girls, different perspectives
emerge about the whole heart-wrenching situation. This is the endearing story about the power of love, the struggle to define family, and how to survive loss.
Recommended Grade Level: 6-12
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Pages: 352
This book review was written by Adult Services Librarian, Chryssi Gumina.
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