Mary Lou was awaiting a summer full of friends, boys and having fun. At the age of thirteen, she had an assignment to do a journal throughout the summer. Out of the blue, her Cousin Carl Ray came to visit. Throughout the book she develops a relationship with her cousin. She learns a lot about boyfriends and dating as well as family value. ( )

This book was a staple of my middle school life. ( )

Mary Lou Finney has an assignment to keep a journal over the summer and she thinks it's boring! But her summer turns out to be a turning point in her life and is anything BUT boring! In the end, we are never told whether or not the teacher reads, the journal, but we readers get to read it, and it's a privilege! I really enjoyed this cute, funny little story. ( )

This was one of my favorite novels as a young teen. Creech is a very truthful writer, never talking down to her audience or making unfair presumptions - she seems to be one of the few writers who really remembers what it feels like to be young. The family drama is hilariously, tragically, relatable. The main character (a strong young girl) writes about her growing sexuality achingly honestly - unsure of herself, but unwilling to make judgment or censure. I'd recommend this to any young teen, especially a young woman. It's an older book, but in no way outdated. The relationship discussed is heterosexual, so a good pairing would be "Annie On My Mind" or "Boy Meets Boy". ( )

Another I noted after reading an exerpt in 33 Things Every Girl Show Know, but this one I enjoyed immensely. An easy read due to the young adult audience. It brought me back to my youth and the thrills of the first kiss, the first hand-holding, the first love. The family goings on also entertained. I would recommend this to any young girls and/or their moms. ( )