December’s Spine Cracker is a follow up to Jane Smolinski’s debut novel Flip-Flopped.
Narrator, June Parker’s life is meandering along until a freak car accident leaves Marissa, her 24-year-old passenger, dead and June wracked with guilt. June discovers a list Marissa had been keeping of 25 things she wanted to do by the time she turned 25. After a run-in with Marissa’s brother, June resolves to complete the list. Kissing a total stranger and throwing away her scale prove far easier than pitching an idea at work or changing someone’s life. But June approaches the list with aplomb, daring to speak up about being passed over for a manager position, and becoming a Big Sister to a quiet, studious Latina teen named DeeDee. But when June uncovers a secret of DeeDee’s, she realizes changing someone else’s life might involve changing her own as well. Clever and winning, Smolinski’s novel will have readers rooting for June as they eagerly turn the pages to keep up with her progress on the list.
Demopolis Library
Hester M. Brown Said:
on April 5, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Jill Smolinski’s novel is an easy look at a tragic occurence. What could easily have been bogged down with remorse and tragedy was instead oresented with expressions of caring and love. Being a romantic at heart, Jill explores the sometime unconnected feelings of a woman when trying to find herself and someone else that truly cares. Well done.