I found this softcover in this Little Free Library in Carlisle MA while dropping off some books of my own. I've enjoyed other works by this author, including Mercury and Goldie Vance; will see how this one compares.

Later: Rather fun tale with a mix of daily-life and coming-of-age, as 13-year-old Bina has to face a summer without her best friend Austin, who's away at soccer camp this year. Bina meets Austin's older sister Charlie and they bond over music, but things get strained when Charlie leaves Bina alone to babysit a friend's kid, and Bina finds she's having trouble coping.

Even worse, when Austin gets back, he seems distracted, and Bina feels more alone than ever. But she gets a boost when she becomes an aunt: her older brother and his husband have a new baby boy.

By the end of the book Bina's made up with Austin, and they're both very happy to be friends. And Bina takes charge of her own life as well, so things are looking up!

I'm sending this to BCer HI77 as part of a trade. Enjoy!

*** Released for the 2020 Tick Tock challenge. ***

The split between

the essential beginning,
that comes from a sharp end.