Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Dessen, Sarah Along for the Ride, 383 p. Viking (Penguin), 2009. Language: PG (35 swears, no “f”). Auden, 18, has her summer all mapped out – studying her textbooks for her freshman year of college in order to get a jump on the competition. What else is there in life besides academics? That is until she answers the invitations from her father’s new wife to come meet her brand new baby half-sister. Thrust into a tense situation in a beachy little town, Auden can either hide in her room all summer, or take the plunge into the unknown social world of Colby. Dessen maps out a charming book that doesn’t rely on beach bodies or sexy scenes to make its points. I don’t know how she keeps giving such wonderful books. FYI – there is an off page makeout scene early on that is implied. MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.