Love and Other Four-Letter Words

With her parents splitting up, 16-year-old Sammie Davis may not want to feel a thing, but feelings happen. For starters, she’s plenty angry. Her dad’s leaving their upstate New York home and moving clear across the country. Her mom’s packing them up and relocating to New York City. And Sammie has no say about any of it.

Overnight Sammie is forced to deal with change. And one change spawns another: roles get reversed, old and new friendships are tested, and sexual feelings awaken. It’s a scary time. But as Sammie realizes that things can’t stay the same forever, that even the people she loves and trusts the most can disappoint her, she begins to accept that change isn’t always bad. It’s how you cope, jumbled feelings and all, that counts. And as she copes, Sammie’s sense of self emerges proud and strong.

Honors

• ALA Quick Pick for Young Adult Reluctant Readers

• An International Reading Association’s Young Adults’ Choice

• A Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Recommended Fiction Title