Trusting You & Other Lies

April 24, 2017
In this summer romance, Williams (the Crash series) banishes 17-year-old Phoenix Ainsworth to an Arizona wilderness camp for families and a summer of roughing it. On top of being stuck in a dusty cabin with her parents and 10-year-old brother, Harry, Phoenix knows that they are about to be evicted—hence her father installing them at his friend’s camp for free, with Phoenix working as a counselor. Phoenix’s initial anger at her parents abates as she warms to the camp: partly because of how much Harry is enjoying it and partly because of Callum, the handsome head counselor in charge of training her. Williams’s novel makes a stronger family story than a romance—as Callum zigzags between being aloof, appealing, and arrogant, it isn’t always easy to see why Phoenix likes him so much. This story is at its best when it’s focusing on Phoenix’s protective relationship with Harry, her anger at and struggles with her parents, and the family’s attempts to regain control of their home, finances, and future. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

April 15, 2017
A romance between two teens focuses on fixing the wrong issue.Phoenix, who is white, keeps her eyes on her future, since when she goes to college in a year she'll be able to get away from her bickering parents, although she worries about who will take care of her little brother, Harrison, aka Harry. Going to a family summer camp isn't in Phoenix's plans, so even though she's stuck with it, she plans to keep up her running and her SAT prep in between duties as a counselor. From the get-go, the novel has problems with plotting. While her family is supposed to be rebuilding its relationships, their father is barely around; readers may feel that the dysfunction portrayed isn't adequately explained by Phoenix's dad's losing his job and the resulting financial difficulties. And then Phoenix meets Callum, the handsome, white head counselor and reforming bad boy. Callum holds most people at arm's length, and Phoenix has a seriously controlling nature--yet trust issues are presented as the major obstacle to their summer romance. As Phoenix's father finally affects the plot like a deus ex machina in character form, Phoenix and Callum will figure out if their love will last at all, let alone beyond the summer. While the central romance is engaging, the weak plotting undercuts its appeal. (Romance. 14-18)

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April 1, 2017
Gr 8 Up-As this story begins, 17-year-old Phoenix is seated in the back of the family car with her brother, 10-year-old Harry, as they speed from Santa Monica, CA, to Camp Kismet, in Arizona. Phoenix is highly skeptical that a summer at a -family camp- owned by her parents' hippie friend Ben will have any effect on the past two years' history of parental fighting since her father lost his lucrative job. She longs to spend her last summer before senior year with her friends on the beach but instead is resigned to enforced labor as a counselor for 12 long weeks. As Phoenix and her family settle into their free cabin for the summer, the teen meets 18-year-old Callum, the good-looking, confident head counselor. She is initially thrilled when he is assigned to be her supervisor, but as she makes several poor work decisions, tensions threaten to derail their budding relationship. Phoenix and Callum are attracted to each other but make erroneous assumptions. What elevates this novel above the usual formulaic plot is the witty and realistic dialogue and excellent character development. VERDICT Most libraries serving teens will find this to be a highly circulating and popular romantic coming-of-age novel with relatable situations and believable characters.-Susan Riley, Mamaroneck Public Library, NYYA Graphic Novels

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2017
Grades 8-11 Phoenix knows that her parents have been lying for years. Ever since her dad lost his lucrative job and was unable to replace it, the family has been living a life they can't afford. She can't imagine that a summer stay in a friend's rustic family camp is a wise or logical move, but with parents unable to face the truth, a little brother whom she feels compelled to protect, and college looming, overachiever Phoenix grudgingly goes along. While her parents' fights intensify and her brainy brother blossoms into an adventurous kid, Phoenix dives into the challenges of being a camp counselor under the instruction of Callum, the aloof teen who makes her knees go weak. As the days pass, their relationship grows and intensifies from playful verbal sparring to mutual support. While idyllic Camp Kismet feels a world apart from their respective problems at home, issues of trust, future plans, and past scars are never far from their minds. This is a charming summer romance with realistic responses and relatable characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)