Girl, Nearly 16: Absolute Torture

Jess had the perfect summer planned: She and Fred, lounging in the park, gazing into one anothers eyes and engaging in witty repartee. It was going to be so romantic. And then her maddening mum stepped in: She suddenly announced a two-week “road trip” to Cornwall to visit Jesss dad, something Jess might have enjoyed, actually, were it not for the monstrously bad timing. Not only will this force Jess and Fred apart for two whole weeks, it will also leave the darling and handsome Fred in the clutches of Jesss blindingly beautiful best friend, Florawho, you might recall, expressed an interest in Fred not too long ago. As if all this werent enough, Jesss mum seems to expect her to weep at the grave of every departed literary hero in Britains long history. Its absolute torture. And little does Jess know, a huge surprise awaits her when she visits her dad at his home for the first time in years.

From the Hardcover edition.

From the Hardcover edition.