Summerland

Library Journal Graduation night is an evening of fun and celebration for four Nantucket high school students, but it ends tragically after Penny Alistair wrecks her boyfriend's Jeep, losing her life and putting her twin brother Hobby in a coma. The other two passengers, Penny's boyfriend, Jake, and her friend Demeter, along with all of the island residents, are stunned and confused. In the following weeks, secrets come to light that reveal Nantucket is more than just a destination for summer fun. VERDICT Hildebrand's (Silver Girl; Summer People) latest touches on heavy subject matter but has a satisfying conclusion. Like Jodi Picoult, she writes about ordinary, believable characters in a difficult situation that could happen to anyone. While the multiple points of view are tough to follow at first, once the story "clicks," fans of realistic fiction will find themselves devouring this novel to discover what really happened that night on the beach. [See Prepub Alert, 12/12/11.]—Amber Woodard, Cumberland Univ. Lib., Lebanon, TN