Return to Paradise

Gr 9 Up—Caleb has just gotten out of prison after serving time for a reckless driving accident. However, Caleb wasn't the driver; it was his twin sister, Lea. Their next-door neighbor, Maggie, who has been close to the twins all her life, was the victim. Maggie's injuries left her with a limp and chronic pain, yet she forgives her friends. Maggie and Caleb find themselves in an outreach program where they share their stories with younger teens as a cautionary strategy. Caleb and Maggie fall in love and the book then follows the repeated ups and downs of their relationship. It is predictable and, too often, overly sentimental. Elizabeth Cottle and Nicholas Mondelli narrate, the latter seeming as if he is just reading the book aloud at times. Elkeles is a popular author, and teens may like the story and find the narration acceptable. Nevertheless, this is not a must-buy for any collection.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA