Paper Hearts

Gr 9 Up—For Felicity's mom, it was Rose's birthday, but for Felicity, it was desertion day. Four years have gone by since Felicity's sister Rose abandoned the family; Felicity's mom insists on celebrating her older daughter's birthday in hopes that one day she will return. As a child of a divorced family, with a missing sister, Felicity has taken on the world and is trying to fill her mother's emptiness. Oftentimes worrying, Felicity is trying to save up enough to pay for college. In the meantime, she volunteers for the Children's Cancer Alliance. To forget about her troubles, the teen goes to the highly anticipated masquerade ball with her friend Asha. But when Asha disappears into the intimidating crowd of A-listers and celebrities, Felicity meets Alec, a member of the hottest boy band, the Heartbreakers. He agrees to take Felicity to San Francisco to search for her sister. The author introduces Rose through a series of letters Felicity reads along her way to San Francisco. Rose was fond of her little sister but couldn't live up to their mother's expectations, so she disappeared. As Felicity seeks her sister, she also learns about herself, her beau, her friends, and her family. This predictable but sweet novel will resonate with readers of sibling fiction, boy band fans, and teens struggling to meet their parents' expectations.