Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Ockler, Sarah, Twenty Boy Summer. Little, Brown and Company, 2009. Pgs. 290. Language: G, Violence: G, Sexual Content: PG-13(girls talk about losing their virginity, but don’t into detail. Also, there is two non-consecutive paragraphs that have sex scenes but they don’t go into a lot of detail.)

It has been 12 month, nine days, and six hours since Anna lost her boyfriend, Matt. Her best friend, who was the sister of the boyfriend, has never been the same and Anna can’t bring herself to tell her the truth about her relationship with Frankie’s brother. In an attempt to let go of the past and heal their lives, Frankie and her family decide to go a vacation to Zanzibar Bay and they invite Anna. The two girls make a pact to date 20 guys at least once in the three weeks that they are on vacation. Anna, agrees to the pact, but has a hard time letting go of her first love. Through a journal, she tries to communicate how she’s feeling every time she misses Matt (the boyfriend) or she is frustrated with Frankie. When a new guy comes into the picture, however, and Anna is interested what will happen? What will happen when Frankie finds the journal? A unique, heart-warming story that will pull at your heartstrings. The characters are well-developed and fun to read about. This is a great book for anyone that has ever lost someone or knows someone who has lost someone dear to them. HS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira: Youth Services Librarian-HUN Public Library