The Bridge from Me to You

Gr 7–10—Lauren's unstable mother has sent her to a tiny Oregon town to live with her aunt, uncle, and three young cousins. Sensitive Colby is the local football hero, who secretly longs to confront his overbearing dad and give up the game all together. When these two high school seniors meet, they feel an undeniable connection. Getting to know each other by sharing their fascinations with birds and bridges, snack foods, and second chances, they begin to navigate a new relationship by supporting each other while tackling their own struggles and secrets. This romantic story, set in a modern-day football-obsessed town, starts out feeling very familiar, especially when Colby's best friend Benny is critically injured and the team must get to the state playoffs. However, the alternating chapters of Lauren's poetry and Colby's conversational prose are well written and help reveal the characters refreshingly unique perspectives, as well as their growth in positive ways. The secondary characters are also thoughtfully developed and cleverly incorporated. Although the general plotline is nothing new and the drama at the end is shifted and then tidied up a bit too quickly, this light, fast-paced story will delight romance fans looking for a fun, hopeful read.—Whitney LeBlanc, Staten Island Academy, NY