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Jan 05, 2017chelseasc rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Medina's tale of one teen coming-of-age during the summer of 1977 was oddly comforting and completely engrossing. Nora is a wonderfully authentic heroine, responsible yet flawed, smart enough to know when she's making bad decisions but realistically juvenile enough to make them anyway, and with a typical teen's view of the adults, both well-meaning and disappointing, in her life. The romance is not the main plot, and remains sweet and even empowering with Nora setting most of the boundaries, but I especially loved the strong female friendship at the heart of the story. Diverse female role models abound in this book, from Nora and Kathleen, two teens determined to own their futures, to Stiller, the African-American activist neighbor who alternately supports and clashes with Kathleen's Catholic feminist mother. In general, Nora's relationships (both supporting and challenging) with her community, from her boss to her teachers to her best friend's parents, contributed much to the story's strong sense of place. And New York in 1977 is really almost a supporting character here. Medina's ability to bring to life the heat, the fear, and the social unrest that characterized that time and place creates an immersive reading experience without ever taking away from Nora's story. And it's strangely reassuring to remember that our country has been through turbulent times before, and continues to move forward. Pairing this slightly apocalyptic setting with the story of a teenager on the precipice of independence and adulthood, struggling to define her place in her family and in her community, and unsure of the future, makes for a truly outstanding read. Sure to appeal to a wide range of teen readers, and great for discussions about family, social history, and relationships.