Booktalking "Truth or Dare" by Barbara Dee

truth
truth or dare

After Lia's mother died tragically in a car crash, her friend, Makayla's mom, Val, and other women in the neighborhood join forces. They become the Mom Squad. Twice a week, they bring a panoply of glorious food to Lia's house, including decadent baked goods and wholesome dinners. Lia feels alternately grateful for the nutrition and attention and guilty for receiving so much good will.

In attempt to move closer to her mother in absentia, Lia decides to spend the summer with her Aunt Shelby, her mother's younger sister. Her attempt to help out at her aunt's shop unfortunately morphs into a complete disaster. Instead, she ends up at the beach, watching older high school kids enjoy the surf and sand. However, her aunt's meddling behavior becomes intolerable, and the girl prematurely truncates her visit. 

Truth or dare... boyfriends and girlfriends... padded bras... and periods. Kids bullying each other due to their early or late physical development. This is the stuff of teenage girl life. Lia is decidedly lagging behind in the puberty department, and this serves as a constant vexation in her life. She takes desperate measures to hide her prepubescent body from her friends and peers, longing and praying for the day when all teenage angst will cease. 

Truth or Dare by Barbara Dee, 2016

 

This author is very funny, and I love her work.

 

Barbara Dee's web site

books about grief and loss