Change of Plans

Gr 7 Up–An unplanned trip turns into a season of truth for Finley as she processes a breakup and experiences some essential self-discoveries. Finley, who is just graduating high school, has her future all planned out—or so she thinks. All her plans come to a bumpy halt in a quick series of events. It begins when her planned trip to New York with her mom gets changed to a long drive to her mom’s family land called “the Woods.” ­Finley has never heard of this place, although her mother has always been a mystery. Meanwhile, Finley’s boyfriend Colin, who is enjoying his summer Disney cruise, dumps her over the phone. While nursing her broken heart, Finley gets preoccupied with getting to know her mom and her mom’s side of the family better, while also making some new friends. Dessen’s excellent character development allows readers to witness the weaknesses, strengths, and growth of the protagonists. These characters are lovable and relatable. The new friends Finley makes are genuine, and they turn out to be good additions to her new life. Teens will relate to Dessen’s realistic characters with real-life problems. Readers will comfortably immerse themselves in the author’s writing as Finley comes into her own, and the conflict’s resolution feels well-earned. Main characters, including Finley and her new love interest, are cued as white; in the supporting cast, ­Finley’s new friend Clark is Black and Lana is ­bisexual.