Together For Never

January 1, 2023
The prospect of a blended family does not appeal to a pair of 13-year-olds. When eighth grade classmates Charlotte and Lily are thrown together on a beach vacation by their dating parents--Charlotte's newly divorced father and Lily's longtime single mother--they overcome their antipathy long enough to plot against their parents' relationship. Charlotte, whose footloose, pretty mother is away on tour with a young rock star, has been queen of her small domain at school and longs to connect with a group of high schoolers she sees at the beachside cafe (the ones Lily thinks of as "hoodlums"); Lily, a reader and science-fiction fan, is one of the many whom Charlotte and her friends have deemed in dire need of a makeover. Though the two couldn't be more different, their plan--pretending to get along and finding alternative romantic partners for their parents--unites them. Kaye's thin but earnest plot may not offer the most original or robust telling, but the setup--the clash and conflict among children in families on the verge of a merger--is perennially appealing. The eventual rapprochement and resolution are satisfactory, if a bit pat. Little detail is given about the protagonists' racial or ethnic identities, though the descriptions of the older teens is, by contrast, oddly specific. Evanescently entertaining. (Fiction. 8-11)

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February 1, 2023
Grades 4-6 Eighth grade is hard enough as it is, and when Charlotte, queen bee and social butterfly of the class, and Lilly, a creative loner who loves to write, find out their single parents are dating, a multitude of stressful and awkward situations arise. Readers will delight in watching the dynamics between Lily and Charlotte transform on an unwanted vacation, during which the girls have to room together. The book is told in third person, with chapters alternating between Lily and Charlotte, allowing readers to view situations from both perspectives as the girls' bond burns and breaks before strengthening. As Lily worries about becoming stepsisters, Charlotte plots to get her dad back with her mom. All the while, the cramped quarters put pressure on their potential friendship, and the two girls must find a way to step back to reevaluate their priorities and perceptions of each other. Middle-grade readers who enjoy scheming possible-siblings and a dose of drama will delight in this Parent Trap-esque tale.

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February 1, 2023

Gr 3-7-Kaye's latest novel is about two 13-year-old enemies who must spend two weeks together on their summer vacation because their parents have been dating for two months and want them to get to know each other better. Lily is a loner though; she loves books and wants to spend the summer writing her own story. Charlotte, her classmate, is a popular mean girl who loves clothes, makeup, and hanging out with her friends. Neither wants to spend any time together, nor do they want their parents to date. Although they spend a lot of time sorting through feelings of jealousy, belonging, and anger (at their parents and each other), they agree to find something in common when their parents make them share a small bedroom. What they decide on is to split their parents up! Each girl decides to find someone else suitable for their parent. But when that falls through, they can bond in another, unexpected way. Charlotte gets in an accident that brings the families together and strengthens everyone's relationships. Readers may find it hard to like Charlotte as she is superficial and cruel, but the author does include a few instances where she shows positive feelings toward Lily and Lily's mom. And Lily, who is often portrayed as quiet, does stand up for herself and behaves in ways that shows she has empathy for Charlotte's circumstances as well. Both main characters are cued as white. VERDICT This quick read will appeal to readers who enjoy tales of friendship and complicated family dynamics.-Tanya Boudreau

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