OK, this is a little out of the norm for me....but I am obsessed with islands, i live in Maine, and Elisabeth Ogilvie's books often center on the Maine coast and quite often feature islands in a big way. Thus, I have set out to acquire and read all of her books. I have found, however, that she also has done a series of teen books, of which this is one.....but what the hay.....we only go around once, and i would never feel right only reading some after i set out to read them all......and besides, they are already on my shelf......what am i supposed to do......so, here goes. This is a very good tale that transports us back to a simpler, more innocent era when being a teenager was very different than it is today.....refreshing, i might add. And the story has some mystery that kept my interest way more than i expected......sappy, of course, but i devoured it quickly. (And i also love the very period cover of my particular paperback.) So, in closing, a pleasant surprise....which is good, cuz there are quite a few more! ( )

This is a book I inherited from my mother and have re-read with guilty pleasure over and over. It's not great literature, but as teen novels go it is a stand-out. While the storyline is certainly dated in many ways, there are some basic themes that are timeless. Cass does things that, as parents, we hope our kids will do - befriend the kid on the outside, refuse to hurt someone just to fit in with the crowd, make the right choice even when no one knows. Of course, she makes some dumb choices too (mostly in the realm of romance) but those are good to read about too. Girls need to think about why they are with boys - and Cass learns eventually to look at herself with more honesty. I thought maybe the time had come to pass this book along - but I'll be keeping it for another guilty re-read! ( )