From You To Me

While at the beach last week, my first novel to finish for the summer was From You To Me by K.A. Holt.  This realistic fiction novel is about an eighth grade girl, Amelia, who is determined to have a better eighth grade year than her other two previous years of middle school.  This year is going to be better - she is going to be happier, more positive, and friendlier.  This will be a huge change from the past two years, where she has been sad, lonely, and depressed since the sudden, tragic loss of her sister, Clara.  However, things change on the first day of school in English class when the teacher hands back their 6th grade letters.  But the teacher accidentally gives Amelia the wrong letter - she gives her Clara's instead.  Clara's letter is a list of all the things she wanted to accomplish during her middle school years.  Amelia's best friend, Taylor, comes up with the idea to complete all the things on Clara's list as a way to help Amelia move on from her sister's death.  So the novel is the story of Amelia's mission through her eighth grade year to complete her sister's goals, all the while learning more about her sister than she ever knew and meeting new friends along the way.  Amelia finally realizes she will never "move on" from her sister's death, but she can move forward. 

I would highly recommend this book for the girls out there.  Guys, not that you won't enjoy this one, but it is a female narrator.  Girls, I will think you will enjoy this one.  It was a quick read (it's only 200 pages) and was fast-paced with several surprises and twists.  I also highly recommend this book for anyone who has lost a loved one or close friend.  Amelia's grief is deep and really shows how hard it is to live without someone you love and the stages of grief someone goes through.

Happy reading!  More recs to come!  I am already into another novel that is a more action/adventure read.  Can't wait to share with you soon!