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Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite
In her first book of the 'Belles' series, Author Jen Calonita has given young readers a lot of what they want, especially girls. Isabelle Scott is a near-orphan who lives with her aging grandmother in a beach town in North Carolina. "Izzie" loves her grandmother and her life as a lifeguard and a member of the swim team. Life is simple and comfortable until Lizzie's grandmother is put into a nursing home due to dementia. Lizzie has only one choice if she does not want to go into the foster care system. She must live with an aunt and uncle and their three children, one of them Izzie's age. Unfortunately, this means a total life change for Izzie. She has to go to a private high school with established snobbish groups who do their best to put her in her place. To complicate things, Lizzie's uncle is a politician running for office and absolutely no nonsense is allowed in the new household.
I think early high school readers will be captivated by the trials and tribulations of the adjustments Lizzie is forced to make but I am not so sure this book will hold the interest of the older students. Calonita did a wonderful job of developing her characters such that readers will want to "take sides" in the ongoing saga as Lizzie challenges her own comfort zone as well as the areas around those she befriends or outmaneuvers. I found this book to be a sweet read which will surely make the younger student think about priorities and loyalties.
