A wonderful summer read that perfectly captures what it is like to be 12 years old and on the cusp of adolescence, trying to figure out your place in the world. I found myself drawn back to that time in my own life, recalling the agony of wishing to fit in with the "cool" group, trying to make sense of the behavior of the adults around me, the boredom of schoolwork, etc. The love story that serves as backdrop is sweetly delivered and realistic. I enjoyed the beach town scenery and the many lovely turns of phrase. My only complaint is that I continued reading until 2:30 am and consequently have been sleepy all day.