Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights
Abigail Constance Alzona is the perfect First Daughter. With her mother as President and dad as First Gentleman, Abby strives to keep her life orderly, her image polished, and her little sister, Elle, in line. But that’s a lot of pressure on a teenager. Then, when she’s smitten by a guest at a White House affair, the charmingly sarcastic Gabriel Calabrese, or as Elle puts it, “Mr. hottie,” Abby’s mischief-making side comes out. She and Gabe ditch the formalities for a private pizza party. But this unauthorized activity is caught on camera and creates a stir on social media. Abby’s parents take drastic steps, canceling the Hawaii trip and sending Abby and Elle to their auntie’s farm for the summer. There goes Abby’s hopes of snagging her “first kiss” and all the other dreams on her summer bucket list. Or does it?
This book by Celeste Dador is the perfect sweet, summer romance for young adults.
It’s well-written with a nice pace and a vibrant cast of identifiable characters. You might think that impossible, being the protagonist is the First Daughter, but the author cleverly challenged many cookie-cutter clichés, along with giving us our first female American president. The antics that Abby and Elle get into are totally gettable, especially for young readers wanting to break down barriers and live a little.
I also loved how well the author peppered in history. I learned a lot more about the forefathers and the White House than I did in my four visits to our capital.
This book is meant for young readers, but I believe all ages will enjoy this fun summer read that takes you back to first crushes, teenage antics, and wholesome summer adventures. Oh, and it tosses in a “celebrity” going small-town incognito, an adventure we’d all like to witness.
Book and image courtesy of Random House Children’s Books and Books Forward PR.
