Claire at Sixteen

The Sebastian Sisters #3

by Susan Beth Pfeffer

When Claire fears her family's stability is threatened, she knows she must fight her own battles to secure their future. Always the most ambitious and beautiful in her family, Claire Sebastian, at sixteen, doesn't harbor romantic dreams-she dreams of wealth. Diamonds, emeralds, and other riches are her focus, as she aims to fund the best medical care for her invalid sister, Sybil. Claire knows her charm and cheekbones are her strongest assets, but she'll also need a cunning plan to save her family from financial hardship. Left to her own devices, as her parents and sisters are consumed by Sybil's recovery, Claire discovers a strategy during a visit with Aunt Grace. However, as her plan unfolds, she realizes that it may cause harm to those around her, possibly even herself.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

182 pages, ebook

First published March 1, 1989

About the author

Susan Beth Pfeffer was an American author best known for young adult and science fiction. After writing for 35 years, she received wider notice for her series of post-apocalyptic novels, officially titled "The Life as We Knew It Series", but often called "The Last Survivors" or "Moon Crash" series, some of which appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Reviews

[Gabrielle S · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are plots that work for the time that would not work now because technology has changed. This is one of those plots. Claire has guts and determination. It’s objectively speaking a terrible plan but it is definitely the kind of plan a teenage girl would come up with.

[jacky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've used Novelist to try and track down this book. What I remember is a book about three sisters who live without their parents for some reason. Over the course of the book, one of them starts to get a little wild and the one who was wild calms down to take care of the family. That's all I remember. I am hazy on if this was a book I finished or not. I feel like I did because I remember an interest in reading the sequel, because this is part of a series. However, even though the title seems familiar, I'm not totally sure this is the correct book. Either way, although this author turned out to write Life as We Knew It, this book wasn't very memorable.

[alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire was my friend Stacy's favorite, and I think it was because she--intellectual and kind--watched Dynasty and stuff with her older sister. Like, she understood this type of story. Now I see Scruples Lite, and even though I know the scene by heart, I saved the confrontation with Sebastian Prescott to savor.

A cute little trick I finally noticed--in both Thea and Claire, each girl is hungry as heck and relieved to find an apple in a refrigerator. I'm starting to think that probably happened in Evvie, too.

[Katrina Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these stories as a teenager! Unfortunately, I don't really remember the story which means I should go out and see if I can find this book again so it can jog my memory.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite thus far but you get a much better idea for how Claire ticks. And even though she's not always pleasant she does have her own brand of family loyalty.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, Claire's got......some nerve!