Synopses & Reviews
In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they thinkBudding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.
When Cricket - a gifted inventor - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.
Review
"With a swoonworthy romance and a cast of unforgettable characters, Lola and the Boy Next Door is another unputdownable read from Stephanie, who clearly excels at imagining teens that are anything but caricatures." ÑMTV.com
"Perkins avoids the second-novel curse with a delectable companion to her debut hit . . . she embeds a tour of San Francisco culture throughout the snappy storyline. And steamy kisses and tingly touches? There are still plenty of those, too." - KIRKUS REVIEWS
"You're going to fall in love with Lola and the Boy Next Door. Madly in love! Every page sparkles." - SARAH MLYNOWSKI, author of Bras & Brookmsticks and Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have)
"snappy dialogue and sexy love interests . . . [Lola's] self-deprecating sense of humor and Perkins's skill at capturing Lola's seesawing emotions make for a lively romance . . ." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Step backÑit's going to fly off the shelves." Ñ SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
Review
"Step back--it's going to fly off the shelves."--
School Library Journal
"A delectable companion to [Perkins's] debut hit, Anna and the French Kiss."--Kirkus Reviews
"Snappy dialogue...a lively romance."--Publishers Weekly
Review
"My sisters novel is a love story to growing up, a love story to Rome, and—in the best and simplest way—a love story to family. I adored reading it."
—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
"Fourteen-year-old Sarah discovers first love and family secrets in this sweet-as-a-cookie Dairy Queen companion for slightly younger readers."
—Kirkus
"A sweet story about family and love, which should appeal to tween readers of Wendy Mass."
—Booklist
"[A] funny and sweet coming-of-age story from the author of Dairy Queen. . . [Sarah's] narrative voice, a winning blend of humor, enthusiasm, and insecurity, will resonate strongly with tween girls, and the journal format will also appeal."
—School Library Journal
"Sarah's voice is tart and inquisitive, and her observations make the pilgrimage come alive."
—The Horn Book Magazine
"Sarah tells her story in the form of journal entries, and her voice is authentically tween as she tried to sort through the complicated turns her life is taking. . . . Give this to fans of Frances O'Roark Dowell and the younger siblings of those who enjoyed the Dairy Queen trilogy."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Synopsis
Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the negihborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.
Synopsis
Family secrets, first love and the magic of Rome take center stage in Catherine Gilbert Murdock's new novel for middle grade readers.
Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old Sarah Zorn intends to spend the Wisconsin summer with her “boyfriend” Curtis, waiting for a dead calf named Boris to decompose in time for the science fair. Her plans upend, however, when her fake-boyfriend strategy goes seriously awry just as her hippie Grandma Z invites her on a last-minute Roman holiday. As Sarah explores Italys ancient wonders, she cant stop “boy-liking” Curtis . . . or puzzling over her grandmothers odd behavior. Written as Sarahs journal, this satisfying middle grade novel navigates the murky waters of first love, friendship, and family with heart and good humor.
About the Author
Catherine Murdock grew up on a small farm in Connecticut and now lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband, two brilliant unicycling children, several cats, and a one-acre yard that she is slowly transforming into a wee, but flourishing ecosystem. She is the author of several books, including the popular Dairy Queen series starring lovable heroine D. J. Schwenk, Princess Ben, and Wisdom's Kiss.