The Chrysalis

Fans of Sarah Dessen will love this summer camp coming of age story by Cynthia Davis.

What Christina Brannigan wanted was a size five prom gown and a date.

What she got was 15 pounds heavier working on the Donut Project.

What she wanted was a leading role in the school play.

What she got was a nosebleed during the drama club audition.

Christina accepted Aunt Meg's invitation to spend the summer teaching arts and crafts to disadvantaged kids at summer camp so she could become everything that she was not. She never expected to meet someone who appreciated the person she already was. The gift that Mark Chadwick gives Christina is the confidence to make a decision that will alter both of their lives forever. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore.

Injured and lost in the driving rain, what she wanted to do was give up.

What she had to do was get her girls to safety.

She wanted to help keep Camp Edson open.

What she did could shut them down.

She wanted the contents of the manila envelope to hold them together.

She knew that was impossible. Read more Continue reading Read less