Juniors - by Kaui Hart Hemmings (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Part Hawaiian, part Mainlander. Perpetual new girl at school. Hanging in the shadow of her actress mother's spotlight. And now: new resident of the prominent West family's guest cottage. Bracing herself for the embarrassment of being her classmates' latest charity case, Lea is surprised when she starts becoming friends with Will and Whitney West instead--or in the case of gorgeous, unattainable Will, possibly even more than friends. And despite their differences, Whitney and Lea have a lot in common: both are navigating a tangled web of relationships, past disappointments and future hopes. As things heat up with Will, and her friendship with Whitney deepens, Lea has to decide how much she's willing to change in order to fit into their world.

*Booklist

Review Quotes

"There's a lot of teenage angst, and this is a perfect YA for either a warm summer day or while curled up in the rain wanting to travel to the beach (in your head!)"--USA TODAY'S Happy Ever After

"Friendship and romance brush cheek to cheek in a story that deals frankly withrace, class, and culture while also managing to wonderfully portray the luminous, dreamlike setting ofHawaii. A perfect complement to the shelves of readers who follow Jenny Han and E. Lockhart."--Booklist

* "Wryly funny, generous-hearted, garnished with sun, surfing, and shave ice--a genuinely literary beach read."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A well-paced plot, fully developed and authentic characters, and a multifaceted and integrated setting will pull in reluctant and avid readers, alike. Fans of realistic fiction will eat up the intensity of Lea's angst as she adjusts to her new lifestyle, new friends, and possible romance . . . VERDICT Recommended purchase for collections where contemporary teen fiction flies off the shelves."--SLJ

About the Author

Juniors is her first novel for young adults.