This Tiny Perfect World

November 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Penny Nelson lives a predictable life in a small Florida town. A low-key 17-year-old whose social life consists of time spent with her best friend, Faye, and boyfriend, Logan, she is content with the routine of helping out her widowed dad at their family-owned diner. When she secures a scholarship to a prestigious summer theater camp, Penny worries about the unfamiliar months ahead. Once she thrusts herself into the new program, however, she begins to look beyond the boundaries of her sheltered life. While working on her acting skills and mixing with other teens who share her passion, Penny starts to question her future plans to attend a local college, settle down with Logan, and run the family restaurant. Faced with her conflicting feelings, she is forced to contemplate how much she is willing to sacrifice for others. Though Gibaldi does not take risks with breaking out of the young adult formula, her straightforward, honest writing makes the story an engaging and enjoyable one. Theater is a main theme of Penny's life, but the novel's plot highlights the fact that it is possible for a teen to use any individual interest to carve out a niche within the intimidating world of high school cliques. The characters are well developed and provide believable interactions that touch on various social issues facing high school students. VERDICT An easy read and a good choice for large YA collections.-Karin Greenberg, Manhasset High School, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
A summer theater program changes Penny's expectations for life after high school.Penny's grown up in a tiny Florida town, embracing a future that everyone assumes will include inheriting her family's diner and marrying her high school sweetheart, Logan. Attending a summer theater camp, on scholarship, before her senior year feels more like self-indulgence than career preparation. However, several of Penny's pre-camp reflections already foreshadow changes on the horizon. First she describes a companionable silence with Logan as "mostly" comfortable and then moments later boldly concludes that her friendships will never change because "we have it all planned out--our futures here. Together." So it's not entirely surprising when her more-cosmopolitan theater friends' dreams of acting in the big cities make Penny's pre-determined small-town future begin to feel dull. Nevertheless, Penny's wracked with guilt about viewing the family's legacy as a burden, and bridging the gulf between Penny's and Logan's future expectations bids to be a difficult--and unresolved--feat. Gibaldi sensitively develops Penny's desire for both independence and the safety net of Logan's love, although secondary storylines--especially Penny's father's new romance--occasionally feel underdeveloped. Penny is depicted on the cover as white, and the lack of racial markers points to a mostly white cast.Penny's conflict about her future is believable, and readers facing similar choices should find much that is recognizable. (Fiction. 12-18)

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October 15, 2017
Grades 9-12 Life in small-town Florida holds few surprises for Penny. She has the steady company of her best friend, the reliable affection of her boyfriend, and a place to work at her dad's restaurant. It seems a fluke when she's chosen for an exclusive theater camp, since Penny adores acting but has little onstage experience. But Penny flourishes. She catches the attention of handsome, worldly Chase, who encourages her to take risks as an actor and exposes her to new experiences. Consequently, Penny dares to wonder if her future might extend beyond the familiar faces and places of her little town. The depiction of Penny's hometown life realistically mixes the comfort of dependable friendships with the disappointment of limited opportunities. In contrast, Penny's experiences at camp constantly challenge her to take risks with her artistic expression and in her social life. Theater buffs will enjoy the descriptions of Penny's acting classes and her audition scenes. The focus on self-discovery makes this a worthy recommendation for fans of Sarah Dessen's The Moon and More (2013).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)