'American Maeve Binchy, a modern day Jane Austen, whatever praise you heap on Elizabeth Berg, she probably deserves it.?

In this warm and engaging novel, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg revisits the heroine she so lovingly brought to life in Durable Goods and Joy School. It is 1961, and thirteen-year-old Katie is facing a summer full of conflict. First, instead of letting her find her own work for the season, Katie's father has arranged for two less than ideal baby-sitting jobs. Worse, Katie has been forcibly inducted into the 'loser' Girl Scout troop organized by her only friend Cynthia's controlling and clueless mother. A much anticipated visit to her former home in Texas and ex-best friend Cherylanne proves disappointing. And then comes an act of betrayal that leaves Katie questioning her views on friendship, on her ability not to take those she loves for granted, and most important, on herself. Full of anguish and the joys of adolescence in a much more innocent time, True to Form is sure to make readers remember and reflect upon their own moments of discovery and self-definition.

It is 1961, and thirteen year old Katie is facing a summer full of conflict. First, instead of letting her find her own work for the season, Katie's father has arranged for two less than satisfactory baby-sitting jobs. Worse, Katie has been forcibly inducted into the 'loser' Girl Scout troop organised by her only friend Cynthia's controlling and clueless mother. A much anticipated visit to her former home in Texas and ex-best friend Cherylanne proves disappointing. And then comes an act of betrayal that leaves Katie questioning her views on friendship, on her ability not to take those she loves for granted, and most important, on herself.

Elizabeth Berg is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Never Change and Open House, which was an Oprah's Book Club selection in 2000. Joy School was selected as American Library Association Best Book of the Year, and Talk Before Sleep, another New York Times bestseller, was shortlisted for the ABBY award in 1996. She is also the author of The Pull of the Moon, Range of Motion, What We Keep and Until the Real Thing Comes Along which were all bestsellers in the United States. A former nurse, she lives in Chicago.

2008-03-25 Value Friends, Make New Friends, and Keep Your Feet on the Ground

Be sure to listen to the reading of this book by Arija Bareikis. She's terrific!

Imagine that you are a thirteen year-old girl whose mother has died, and your authoritarian father (who is in the Army) gets you two jobs for the summer that you don't want. Obviously, you are going to do the jobs . . . but your stomach is churning with dread. What is there to look forward to?

Katie Nash ends up having the summer of her life, learning new meanings to friendship, making new friends, and finding out important lessons about herself and the challenges of being a teenage girl. She brings a caring heart to her life that takes this book from being somewhat of a formula book into one that will bring many smiles.

Although I was never a teenage girl, Ms. Berg's writing took me back to those days and the desire to be an adult . . . while my parents had other ideas.

Part of the book's charm is that Ms. Berg knows how to let her characters grow and change in ways that you usually don't expect.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to re-create 1961 and think about the importance of becoming open to more possibilities.