These connected short stories could be read individually, but I read them in one sitting. They are each told from a different teen's point of view, addressing themes of love, identity, including sexual, and class. The voices are authentic, with a rare off-note, and varied. My favorite is "Ricardo," if you only want to read one. Whittlinger does a good job keeping twelve characters distinct and the reader turning pages. ( )

These connected short stories could be read individually, but I read them in one sitting. They are each told from a different teen's point of view, addressing themes of love, identity, including sexual, and class. The voices are authentic, with a rare off-note, and varied. My favorite is "Ricardo," if you only want to read one. Whittlinger does a good job keeping twelve characters distinct and the reader turning pages. ( )

Each of ten teenagers living in Scrub Harbor, Massachusetts, explores his or her identity at the same time that the local residents consider changing the name of their town. ( )