
Reach for this book when your teenager begins to realize that parents are not just authority figures, but complex people with secrets, flaws, and a history that predates their children. Set in the post-war glitz of 1947 Florida, this noir-style mystery follows fifteen-year-old Evie as she navigates her first crush and a web of adult deception that threatens her family's stability. It is a sophisticated exploration of moral ambiguity and the loss of childhood innocence. This story is ideal for older middle schoolers and high schoolers who appreciate atmospheric historical fiction. It provides a mirror for the unsettling transition into adulthood where the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. Parents can use this book to open honest conversations about integrity, the weight of keeping secrets, and how we reconcile our love for our family with the discovery of their mistakes.
The protagonist chooses to lie under oath to protect her family's reputation.
Flirtation and a first crush between a 15-year-old and an older ex-soldier.
Adult characters drink and smoke heavily, consistent with the 1940s setting.
The book deals with death, theft, and anti-Semitism in a direct, realistic manner. The resolution is ambiguous and haunting rather than hopeful: Evie chooses to lie to protect her family, marking a permanent loss of her moral innocence.
A thoughtful 14-year-old who enjoys old movies and mystery, and who is currently questioning the adult world's ethics. It's for the teen who feels they are finally seeing the 'real' version of their parents.
Parents should be aware of the sophisticated 'noir' tone. The ending involves a character committing perjury. It is best read with the context of post-WWII societal pressure to maintain a perfect image. A parent might notice their child becoming more private or skeptical of family stories, or perhaps they've witnessed their child grapple with a situation where honesty is the right choice but comes at a high social or personal cost.
Younger teens will focus on the romance and the mystery of the 'stolen loot.' Older teens will better grasp the devastating moral compromise Evie makes and the historical nuances of 1940s prejudice.
Unlike many YA novels that reward the truth-teller, this book is unique for its unflinching look at why people choose to lie and the heavy, lifelong burden that those lies carry.
In 1947, Evie Spooner travels with her glamorous mother and her war-hero stepfather, Joe, to a luxury resort in Florida. There, they meet Peter Coleridge, a handsome ex-GI who knows Joe from the war. As Evie falls for Peter, she begins to suspect that the bond between Peter and Joe is built on a dark, stolen secret from their time in the Army. A sudden tragedy forces Evie to choose between the truth and her family's safety.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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