The Parent Trap meets The Holiday in this heartwarming and funny story of two girls, one American and one British, who become friends and confidantes when their families swap houses, from the acclaimed author of Glitter Gets Everywhere.
Allie and Sage are complete opposites. Allie is British, a middle child, and dreams of being a spy. Sage is an only child from California who’s into crystals. They’re brought together when their parents arrange a house swap—Allie’s family will spend a week at Sage’s house in California while Sage and her mom stay in Allie’s house for a visit to the British countryside.
When the girls meet, Allie quickly sees that Sage is hurting over tension between her parents. Determined to reunite them, the girls hatch a plan to bring Sage’s dad to England. When everything—shockingly—goes according to plan, Sage must finally confront her parents and learn the fate of her family.
While Allie helps pull the strings in Sage’s family, she’s struggling to be noticed in her own, with her obnoxious older brother and annoying younger sister taking up all her parents’ time. But when her brother is in a surf accident, Allie sees him and their family in a new light.
This sweet and emotional story is told in alternating chapters from each girl’s POV, offering two unique perspectives on family and belonging.
“About Bletchley Park.”
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School Library Journal
Gr 3-7-Odd-couple duo Allie and Sage will warm readers' hearts as they find themselves in a unique situation where their families swap homes for for the summer, leading to adventures as they discover more about themselves and their new countries. Sage lives a carefree life in California, surrounded by sunshine and the ocean, and all the fun that comes with being a Cali girl. Allie, who is British, dreams of someday being able to investigate unsolved mysteries. The girls are quite different in terms of personality, culture, and family style. While Sage is used to being an only child in a small family, Allie is used to a more crowded home, one that at times makes her feel like she is hidden in the background. Tweens will enjoy getting to know Sage and Allie through their alternating perspectives and will likely connect to their relatable struggles. Sage fears her parents might get separated and Allie feels lost, trying to make sense of how it feels to be a part of such a different family unit than Sage's. In the end, readers will find themselves emotionally invested as both characters learn about what it truly means to be a family, the challenges that come with growing up in different environments, and how hard it can be to find yourself. Both main characters are white. VERDICT A strong, heartwarming coming-of-age tale for tweens, teens, and even adults.-Aurora Dominguez?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.