cover image Fade to Us

Fade to Us

Julia Day. Wednesday, $18.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-250-09737-8

Seventeen-year-old Brooke Byers thinks that she is about to embark on the best summer of her life. She has a fantastic job at a jewelry shop that will get her closer to purchasing the used car of her dreams. But Brooke’s plans are disrupted when Brooke’s 15-year-old stepsister, Natalie, unexpectedly moves in with Brooke, her mother, and her stepfather. Instead of hanging out with her friends, Brooke is stuck taking care of Natalie, who has Asperger’s syndrome and is prone to meltdowns when routines are disrupted. After Natalie signs up for a five-week drama camp, the sisters meet Micah, and both of them are interested in him: Natalie looks to him as a mentor, while Brooke just thinks he’s hot. Day (The Possibility of Somewhere) weaves a quiet tale of love, friendship, sisterhood, and family; she takes time to carefully develop her characters, allowing readers to fully understand their perspectives. Patient readers will be rewarded with an emotional and touching conclusion. Ages 12–up. [em]Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Feb.) [/em]