Roar Like a Girl

Gr 6–8—When readers last met Willa, she was enjoying a Cape Cod summer, getting to know new stepdad Sam, taking a break from boyfriend JFK, and flirting with handsome Jessie. In this first spin-off of the series that began with The Wedding Planner's Daughter, Willa is 14, about to start 10th grade, and totally unaware of the changes that are about to throw her into a tailspin. When a fire destroys the beautifully restored Bramblebriar Inn, the family loses everything, including her mom's business. Sam is offered a one-year position in Troy, NY, so Willa is forced to leave Nana, her friends, her school, and her beloved Salty Dog, who went missing during the fire. Although she rails against the move, she warms to her new home. Its remarkably friendly inhabitants, including a cute neighbor boy, soon make the heroine want to stay in Troy. Willa joins a group of young girls and teaches them to "roar like a girl" when they petition City Hall for a clubhouse. The teen explains a lot of what happened in previous books, wonders about her future, discusses current news events, and offers reading suggestions but faces no real conflicts or adversaries. Although she is an exceptionally bright, likable, and socially conscious young lady who helps those in need, things seem to always go her way and readers know that she will succeed no matter what.