Author: Bill Condon
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book - library
From Goodreads: A funny, poignant, realistic story of Tiffany's first love and first job, and the inevitability of change in the first summer out of school School is over, not just for the year, but forever. Tiff and Kayla are free, which is what they've always wanted, but now summer is nearly at an end and that means life decisions. Tiff is hoping her job at the local paper will lead to something more, but "The Shark" soon puts her straight on what it takes to become a hard-nosed reporter like him. At home, Reggie—the only grandad she's ever known—has quit smoking and diagnosed himself as a cactus, and then Kayla hits her with some big news. And into all this stumbles Davey, who plays rugby but quotes Truman Capote, and is the first boy who has ever really wanted to know her. Tiff is smart with words and rarely does tears, but in one short week she discovers that words don't always get you there; they don't let you say all the stuff from deep in your heart.
What I thought: This is the fifth book from the The Children's Book Council of Australia Older Reader's Short list.
This was an enjoyable read, with clear likeable characters. The feeling of a small country town was well captured, but for some reason this book just didn’t grab me. I can’t even really put my finger on why, there’s is nothing I can point at and say that’s the issue. Maybe if I had read it without the banner of CBC, or if it had been among the first I had read from the list I wouldn’t be so non committal about it, but put up against the other four books I have read so far, I don’t see it as a winner or a notable.
Challenges: Aussie Author Challenge
Challenges: Aussie Author Challenge