Vanna Reynolds was popular and happy back in Plano, Texas, but now she lives with her mother in a tiny apartment in San Antonio. How can she start her freshman year as a complete nobody? Fatima Garcia does well in school and helps out with her family s construction business, but is worried about her weight. So she s thrilled when a junior starts paying attention to her but is he really interested in Fatima? Olivia Silverstein tries to make life easier for her mother. Ever since her father died two years ago, she s been the perfect daughter. When will she get to have her own life? When Vanna, Fatima, and Olivia meet at band practice in August, they quickly become best friends. Together, they are ready to tackle the matters of the heart that await them, deep in the heart of high school.Written with verve and touches of humor, the voices in this first novel ring with authenticity. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 5-9-Freshmen at their San Antonio high school, best friends Olivia and Fatima form a strong bond with Vanna, a recent and reluctant transplant from Plano. The three met at summer band camp and are all in the marching band. Each one has her own issues: Fatima deals with being overweight; Olivia with shyness and the recent loss of her father; and Vanna with her parents' divorce. Goldbach has a deft touch as she tackles these problems, never drifting into melodrama and creating a very realistic story of friendship. Each girl comes across as a well-developed individual, and several of the supporting characters are equally interesting, including their book-smart guy pal, Alex, and cool indie rock fan, Jake. The parents are portrayed as decent yet flawed individuals who truly want the best for their daughters. The richly detailed descriptions of San Antonio and its cultural traditions add depth and flavor. While the author does deliver a predictable happy ending, she leaves things not quite perfect as these girls' lives are still very much under construction.-Shari Fesko, Southfield Public Library, MI Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Goldbach's predictable novel about three teenage girls may actually appeal more to tweens than teens. Freshmen Vanna, Fatima, and Olivia are members in the marching band at their San Antonio high school. Each girl is grappling with typical adolescent issues: Vanna's parents are recently separated, and she and her mother are getting used to sharing a tiny apartment; shy Olivia can't open up about her father's death or talk to cute bandmate Travis; Fatima struggles with body issues and her mother's constant nitpicking about her weight. Each girl acknowledges her difficulties and subsequently overcomes them. The author's descriptions of the marching-band hierarchy ( At the top of the food chain was the drumline. They rivaled football players in high school popularity. ) are enlightening and the Spanish phrases peppered throughout provide authenticity to the Texas setting. However, there is very little drama or serious conflict to sustain readers' interest. This safe novel won't pack much punch for mature teens, but will perhaps satiate the older tween set, who are not quite ready for meatier YA reads.--Garnick, Kimberly Copyright 2009 Booklist From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.