#28 - Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

2006 Medal Winner

I finished this book last night. It is a coming of age novel about a group of 14 year olds and how lives "criss cross."

From the back of the book:
"She wished something would happen. Something good. To her. Checking her wish for loopholes, she found one. Hoping it wasn't too late, she thought the word soon.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, he felt as if the world was opening. Life was rearranging itself; bulging in places, fraying in spots. He felt himself changing, too, but into what?

So much can happen in a summer."

This was a nice, warm and fuzzy book about kids discovering who they are, and the meaning of love - topics relevant to any teen or pre-teen. At the end, one of the main characters, Debbie, discusses a particularly insightful thought about the topic of love. I won't give it away.

I liked this book, and the illustrations in the book were very interesting - a mix of photos, drawings, and even music. I'll be honest though, I didn't really find this to be "award winning" material. Maybe someone younger would disagree, but I just found it so-so.