Rules for Hearts
Grade 10 Up—Readers ofEmpress of the World(Viking, 2001) will relish another chance to spend time with Battle Hall Davies in this terrific sequel. Now 18 and about to start college, she decides to spend the summer with a houseful of quirky actors and bohemians in Portland, OR. What her parents don't know is that one of the Forest House residents is Battle's older brother, who ran away from home at 17. Her reunion with Nick is a prickly one, though, as she finds that he is not always dependable. Her crush on Meryl, a swimming instructor who lives in the house, is also full of ambiguities. Meryl is alternately seductive, manipulative, and confused, often leaving Battle baffled and hurt. Ryan does a wonderful job of portraying a group of creative young people with limited finances, fluid sexuality, and complicated relationships. This novel celebrates the process of becoming an adult without providing any easy answers. Battle's summer is a challenging one, full of possibilities and disappointments, and it's a joy to share her journey.—Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.