KISS ME TOMORROW

Entering Memorial Junior High is scary enough, but there are far worse changes in 13-year-old Blister Reed’s life, including moving into a new house with her mother’s surprise new boyfriend, and nearly losing her best friend Jonah. Wanting to be one of the popular boys, Jonah ignores her until, accused of shoplifting, he needs her help. On top of that, now he wants her to be his girlfriend. Feeling moody and out of control, Blister can’t even count on herself. Luckily, her grandmother is still around to provide steady encouragement and the occasional lemon meringue pie. And happily, both the mother’s boyfriend and “the creep across the street,” who got Jonah into trouble, turn out to be better than she expected. This sequel to Blister (2001) stands on its own, with the events of Blister’s elementary school years—including a stillborn baby sister, a divorce and her father’s remarriage—smoothly woven in. Don’t judge this by its chick-lit cover; this smoothly written family and friendship story perfectly captures the difficult balancing act of seventh grade. (Fiction. 10-14)