Proof of Forever

Gr 9 Up—Luce, Tali, Zoe, and Joy were best friends, but after a falling out at the end of their last summer at Camp Okahatchee, they barely speak. At a summer camp reunion, the four friends step into a photobooth for old time's sake and are sent back in time two summers earlier to when they were 15. This event will hopefully give them a second chance at romance, finding themselves, and, most importantly, mending their friendship before they leave for college. A quintessential summer novel, this contemporary work mixes in a bit of sci-fi with the time-traveling photobooth. All four characters deal with realistic emotions and a variety of experiences, including a father's dubious business practices, budding sexuality, and the desire for independence. The girls are all likable and relatable. The plot is slow to unravel, but the pace is perfect, allowing for the climax to pack a powerful punch. This novel will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Jennifer E. Smith, and Ann Brashares.