Main character Taylor, tells her story in responses to classroom writing prompts. The text of her musings concern dating both before and after the catastrophe. The story is set in the state of Hawaii as a Taylor charts her life and the catastrophe that reshaped her world.

Three years prior, Taylor’s family moved from Oregon to Oahu. Moving is tough when you are in the eighth grade, then it is compounded by her mom’s clinical depression and the constant friction between her dad and brother, Eli. Eli is a high school senior. Following the move, the friction worsens as Eli skips school to hang with his surfing brahs and girlfriend, Stacy. They party. drink and drive to the North Shore to surf. Taylor, in the other hand escapes into social networking, fantasizing about a career in fashion. Then she befriends stylish Brielle, whose manipulative ways are patterned after reality TV, Taylor allows Brielle to coax her into abandoning one friend and betraying another. Peer pressure is a ... well you know what it is dear reader.

This is a a profound look at coming-of-age in a socially networked world, yet I had a hard time getting into the story and an even harder time sticking with it.
(Fiction. 11-15) ( )