Edgewater

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About Edgewater

Product Description Lorrie Hollander used to be a rich girl, but now she’s lost everything because of the secrets and lies of the people around her. It’s been 12 years since Lorrie’s mother skipped town and left Lorrie in the care of her unstable aunt Gigi. Together they live in a neglected, decrepit mansion called Edgewater, the eyesore in a town of extraordinary wealth and privilege. When Charlie, the son of an esteemed senator, takes an interest in Lorrie, her shame for her family and lifestyle runs deep. But what she doesn’t know is that Charlie’s family is hiding something, too, and that their secrets are inextricably tied. Now Lorrie must confront the truth about her family—and everything she ever thought she knew about herself. From School Library Journal Gr 9 Up—Rich girl Lorrie Hollander's life comes crashing down when she is notified that there are insufficient funds available to cover her tuition at an exclusive equestrian program at her boarding school. She knows there is a trust fund governed by her maternal Aunt Gigi, who happens to be unstable, mentally ill, and unreliable. It is the same trust fund set up by her absentee mother, Danielle, who abandoned Lorrie and younger sister Susannah to Aunt Gigi's care for a new life 12 years ago. Lorrie has no choice but to leave her beloved horse and her top-notch education so she can return to the family estate. Edgewater is the decaying and dilapidated mansion where her aunt resides with colonies of cats and raccoons in a wealthy town in Long Island, NY. It is also a health hazard. While Aunt Gigi and Susannah are content with living in squalor, Lorrie is embarrassed and ashamed of her living situation. She meets and falls in love with Charlie Copeland, the son of a prominent senator. The teen makes every attempt to hide her real identity and ties to Edgewater from Charlie. However, she has no idea that the Copelands are hiding something that binds the two families forever. The pace of Sheinmel's YA debut starts off slow but picks up once the importance of Lorrie and Susannah's mother's backstory becomes clearer within the larger plot. The family-centered political drama will intrigue teens, who will especially appreciate the bond of the sister relationships explored here. This nod to Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale and Edith Bouvier Beale, who were the basis of the multiple versions of Grey Gardens, will inspire teens to do their own research on the enigmatic mother-daughter pair. VERDICT Recommended for readers who are interested in political thrillers and fans of the television series Scandal.—Donald Peebles, New York Black Librarians Caucus Review STARRED REVIEW "With powerful messages of family and self-reliance, Sheinmel’s ( Sincerely) coming-of-age tale captivates with its masterful storytelling style and intricate detail." ( Publishers Weekly) "Riveting and heartbreaking." ( Kirkus Reviews) "Sheinmel makes the jump from middle grade to young adult with an enthralling examination of family secrets in a lush Hamptons setting...Though the homages to real figures will draw in readers, it’s the complicated family dynamics, particularly with Lorrie’s younger sister, Susanna, that truly shine... Perfect for teen fans of Scandal." ( Booklist) About the Author Courtney Sheinmel is the author of My So-Called Family, Positively, Sincerely, All the Things You Are, and the Stella Batts series for young readers. Her books have received many awards and appeared on numerous recommended lists. She lives in New York City.