Paper Airplanes

British media personality O'Porter debuts with a punchy story (partially mined from the author's own teenage diaries) about the bonds of female friendship, told through the alternating perspectives of two vulnerable girls. It's 1994 on the small British island of Guernsey, and 15-year-olds Flo and Ren%C3%A9e become strongly attached to one another. Flo struggles with a best friend who erodes her self-esteem, as well as increased responsibilities at home due to her depressed father's absence. Ren%C3%A9e is dealing with the death of her mother, romantic entanglements, and her sister's bulimia, among other problems. The girls encourage and challenge one another to persevere, even as outside forces and mutual betrayals threaten their intimacy. O'Porter uses candid warmth and humor to convey the awkwardness of sexual urges and puberty ("If one more person says the words %E2%80%98period' or %E2%80%98panty pad' in front of Pop, I am going to have to jump out the window, run to the sea, and swim to France"). Fierce, full-blooded girls who fistfight one minute and burst into tears the next carry this powerful coming-of-age story. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. Agent: Adrian Sington, DCD Publishing. (Sept.)