Changes in Latitudes

Gr 9 Up—Following her parents' divorce, 17-year-old Cassie McClure seeks refuge in the company of her two closest friends and the garden she maintains at her childhood home. Convinced that the divorce resulted from her mother's infidelity, Cassie harbors significant resentment, which only increases when her mother reveals that they will spend four months on a sailing trip. Her mother hopes the trip will bring their fractured family together, and Cassie's brother, Drew, is enthusiastic about the opportunity. Cassie remains defiant until she is distracted by the handsome deckhand, Jonah. The two form a fast friendship, which eventually becomes a romance that moves beyond the temporary thrill of a minor fling. However, any hopes that the trip would heal the rift between Cassie and her mother quickly dissipate as Cassie's unresolved anger boils to the surface in a series of conflicts with her mother, Drew, and even Jonah. Ultimately, the protagonist has to decide if she is willing to let go of her past in favor of the potential rewards of the future. Cassie's voice and feelings about the divorce are realistic. Jonah's character is less developed and verges on the Prince Charming trope, but readers will likely enjoy this aspect of the romance. The story's strength lies in Cassie's realization of the impact her anger has on her happiness.