From Powells.com
The Best Books of 2019 (So Far)
Staff Pick
There is so much I love about this book — a thoroughly charming reverse parent trap. It comes from a powerhouse author duo, the main characters are hilarious and lovable, there are two summer camps (each deliciously terrible in their own ways), it features one of the best middle reader covers I've seen in ages, and most of all, it includes a powerful message about what it means to create and be a family. Recommended By Sarah R., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From two extraordinary authors comes a moving, exuberant, laugh-out-loud novel about friendship and family, told entirely in emails and letters.
Avery Bloom, who’s bookish, intense, and afraid of many things, particularly deep water, lives in New York City. Bett Devlin, who’s fearless, outgoing, and loves all animals as well as the ocean, lives in California. What they have in common is that they are both 12 years old, and are both being raised by single, gay dads.
When their dads fall in love, Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same sleepaway camp. Their dads hope that they will find common ground and become friends — and possibly, one day, even sisters.
But things soon go off the rails for the girls (and for their dads too), and they find themselves on a summer adventure that neither of them could have predicted. Now that they can’t imagine life without each other, will the two girls (who sometimes call themselves Night Owl and Dogfish) figure out a way to be a family?
Review
"Written entirely in emails and letters, this laugh-out-loud novel showcases the collaborative skills of bestselling authors Sloan (Short) and Wolitzer (Bellzhar)....the novel affirms that families conventional and unconventional are families just the same." Publishers Weekly
Review
"A sweet and amusing tale that celebrates diversity while reinforcing the power of love and the importance of family." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"[I]ts escalating stakes and Parent Trap-like setup is sure to appeal to both authors' fan bases. Alternately heartwarming and hilarious." American Library Association
About the Author
Holly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in Holland; Istanbul, Turkey; Washington, DC; Berkeley, California; and Eugene, Oregon. After graduating from Wellesley College and spending some time as an advertising copywriter, she began writing family feature films, including Angels in the Outfield and Made in America. She is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Counting by 7s and Short, among other novels.
Meg Wolitzer is the New York Times bestselling author of The Interestings, The Uncoupling, The Ten-Year Nap, The Position, The Wife, and Sleepwalking. She is also the author of the young adult novel Belzhar. Wolitzer lives in New York City.