The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Here's a quick bit from the book's Amazon page: Grounded, logical Mia is trying to cope with a summer that hasn't been what she expected. Her vacation in New York's tony Hamptons with her extended family was supposed to be about spending time with her firecracker cousin Corinne and her sympathetic aunt as relief from her mother's criticism and her parents' fights about money and status. But quickly the bubble bursts: her aunt is tense and preoccupied while jaded Corinne is more interested in drinking and her cool friends. Adrift, Mia can't help wanting to be part of Corinne's circle, even though she doesn't like these girls. Struggling to remain true to herself, she strikes up a friendship with Simon, the boy next door. Through late-night walks on the beach, the teens become more than friends. A skinny dip after a storm brutally ends Mia's summer—but not the growth she's achieved.

The images painted in the pages of this book leave you breathless.  I will say that I was cruisin' along through this book, hoping that Mia would find her own path.  That she would not be so susceptable to the acceptance of her cousins and their crew.  I was glad to see that happening and was loving her development as a character.  She was falling in love with Simon, things looked so grand.  Then BLAM!  I'm not going to tell you the ending, but it really wracked me.  It's tough to have something fraught with tragedy, yet have it remain beautiful and tender.  I think Ms. Howells succeeds in this. 

My favorite lines (because I can't pick just one) are: "I tried not to stare nor feel envious of their sun-kissed bodies, but when you see people like my cousins, no matter what your body type, you end up feeling squashy as a marshmallow and covered with hair, even if you've just gotten a bikini and leg wax."  This one for the image alone. "Corinne and Beth lay like tiny dolls way off on the dunes, but I averted my eyes and picked up my pace."  And this one for it's sheer honesty. "There's no complete truth.  There's only the way you see it, the way you remember it."

I definitely recommend this book.  There is some drinking and drug use in it.  I would say 14 and up is prime age for this book.  Maybe even a touch younger.  Have you read this?  How did you feel about it?  I give it 4 smooches!

Pineberries, Pluots, and Tangelos - What hybrid fruit are you?

This little guy is the Pineberry. Looks like a white strawberry, with red seeds but tastes and smells like a pineapple. You can read all about him here: http://bit.ly/bsEpD9 These little wonders are going on sale this spring in the UK. I think it’s cool that there’s this little berry that tastes like a big ol’ pineapple.

It got me to thinking about how we’re all just a big conglomeration of our experiences. Everything, good and bad in our life has brought us to be the person we are today. Pretty deep thoughts to get from a little pineberry. There’s not only the nurture aspect of things but the nature aspect as well. We’re each a hybrid of our parents genes and the generations before them. Okay, I’m not going too far down that road, but you get the picture.

How we deal with our experiences and (maybe to a degree)the influence genetics has over us, determines where we wind up. Whether we a bit more acidic like a tangelo; a tangerine and grapefruit combo. A bit more subtle like the jostaberry; a cross between black currants and gooseberries. Or you could wind up with a sweeter disposition like the grapple; a Fuji apple with Concord grape flavor. Then again, you could be a whimsical mixture of sweetness with a little sour bite in there like a pluot or aprium; both are a cross of plum and apricot. Whatever it is we’re all definitely unique and so is the new kid on the block, the pineberry. What are your thoughts on the mixture you’ve come to be?