How My Summer Went Up in Flames

In a fit of rage, high school junior Rosie Catalano torches keepsakes from her relationship with her cheating boyfriend, accidentally setting fire to his car. This results in a restraining order, horrifying Rosie, her friends, and her parents, who have to pony up for a lawyer and prepare for a court date in two weeks. To keep Rosie away from Joey, Rosie’s parents agree to let her travel from New Jersey to Arizona and back with her trustworthy neighbor Matty and his geeky friends Spencer and Logan. Debut author Doktorski’s writing is full of emotion and wit; Rosie is willing to speak her mind and stand up for herself, with a beauty that comes from real curves, a real appetite, and a sassy attitude. Matty, Spencer, and Logan are all worthy romantic heroes in their own ways, and readers may have difficulty deciding who they want Rosie to end up with. Throw in a couple of excellent, loyal girlfriends—one old and one new—and the result is an entertaining road trip novel about heartbreak and starting over. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kerry Sparks, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. (May)