Help me remember this darkish YA novel
November 17, 2011 5:45 PM Subscribe
Do you remember this YA book about two girls from different worlds spending a life-changing summer on the beach together? With a small bit involving Tarot cards? It's not Judy Blume's Summer Sisters or Francesca Lia Block's The Hanged Man.
The book is about a girl who moves to a beach town with her father one summer (or maybe they're just on a long vacation?) and meets another girl about her age and they become sort-of friends, in that competitive and catty way that girls in YA novels do (they fight over a boy at some point, a boy they met either water-skiing or jetskiing or somethinging on the beach). The other girl was either older or just came off as more sophisticated because she was from a rich family. She kind of strange, and had a deck of Tarot cards that her maid? nanny? taught her to read. I recall she kept them wrapped up in black silk. Other than the Tarot deck the story didn't involve magic or mysticism, but I do remember it being generally dark. There's a scene where someone (the rich girl or her mother?) freebases cocaine.
Also, I half-remember associating the word "Freedom" with the book, either as the name of the town, or the name or nickname of one of the characters, maybe? I think there was also a 4th of July celebration featured. Maybe.
I read it around the same time I read Constance C. Greene's Monday I Love You, which was published in the late 80s, but since I checked them both out from the library I don't know if they came out around the same time. I think the cover might have had a picture of one of the girls sitting on a hill with the sea in the background, but I could be mixing it up with another book.
The book is about a girl who moves to a beach town with her father one summer (or maybe they're just on a long vacation?) and meets another girl about her age and they become sort-of friends, in that competitive and catty way that girls in YA novels do (they fight over a boy at some point, a boy they met either water-skiing or jetskiing or somethinging on the beach). The other girl was either older or just came off as more sophisticated because she was from a rich family. She kind of strange, and had a deck of Tarot cards that her maid? nanny? taught her to read. I recall she kept them wrapped up in black silk. Other than the Tarot deck the story didn't involve magic or mysticism, but I do remember it being generally dark. There's a scene where someone (the rich girl or her mother?) freebases cocaine.
Also, I half-remember associating the word "Freedom" with the book, either as the name of the town, or the name or nickname of one of the characters, maybe? I think there was also a 4th of July celebration featured. Maybe.
I read it around the same time I read Constance C. Greene's Monday I Love You, which was published in the late 80s, but since I checked them both out from the library I don't know if they came out around the same time. I think the cover might have had a picture of one of the girls sitting on a hill with the sea in the background, but I could be mixing it up with another book.
Response by poster: That's pretty similar, but not it. The girl moved with her father, not her mother, and the other girl lived in a different house. I'm pretty sure they were a little older than that, too.
posted by rhiannonstone at 6:27 PM on November 17, 2011
posted by rhiannonstone at 6:27 PM on November 17, 2011
That sounds so familiar to me! I know I've read that book and I loved it. But I've scoured all the websites I could think of and I can't find it. Driving me crazy!
posted by costanza at 10:47 AM on November 18, 2011
posted by costanza at 10:47 AM on November 18, 2011
ARGH I totally read this book. The more experienced girl has sex with the guy on the beach and describes what it was like in detail to the other girl in my recollection.
But I don't remember the title.
I think I read it around 1992-1994 if that helps, but I don't know if it was published then or just before then.
posted by rmless at 2:36 PM on November 18, 2011
But I don't remember the title.
I think I read it around 1992-1994 if that helps, but I don't know if it was published then or just before then.
posted by rmless at 2:36 PM on November 18, 2011
I remember this one, too. I think the main character's name was Allie. (Her nickname was Allie Cat?) The nanny/maid ends up throwing herself off a ferry and drowning. But I can't remember the title!
posted by fairfax at 4:17 PM on November 18, 2011
posted by fairfax at 4:17 PM on November 18, 2011
Response by poster: Fairfax, yes! Argh I hope someone remembers the title.
posted by rhiannonstone at 6:56 PM on November 18, 2011
posted by rhiannonstone at 6:56 PM on November 18, 2011
Best answer: Found it! Taking the Ferry Home by Pam Conrad.
posted by fairfax at 6:56 PM on November 18, 2011
posted by fairfax at 6:56 PM on November 18, 2011
Response by poster: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH FOREVER. That's it! Thank you. :)
posted by rhiannonstone at 7:00 PM on November 18, 2011
posted by rhiannonstone at 7:00 PM on November 18, 2011
I wonder what book I was thinking of. I'm pretty sure this is not it. Hmmmm.
posted by costanza at 10:29 PM on November 18, 2011
posted by costanza at 10:29 PM on November 18, 2011
In case anyone was wondering, I found out the book I was thinking of. The Watcher by James Howe.
posted by costanza at 3:35 PM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by costanza at 3:35 PM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
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posted by wuzandfuzz at 5:59 PM on November 17, 2011