Dylan Madrid

Crawford Paul is an accomplished pianist and student at a prestigious Chicago conservatory. After a prank goes wrong, his status at the school is called into question and he returns to his family's California home to await news of his fate. To avoid being bored all summer (and because he's worried about his scholarship being revoked), Crawford accepts a job escorting seven-year-old Isabella to her swimming lessons. While there, he quickly makes a connect with Nina, despite others telling him he should steer clear of her. Even more fortuitous is his discovery of Armando Leon, Isabella's swimming instructor. Armando offers Crawford private swimming lessons and the two make a quick but strong connection. What will happen at the end of the summer? If everything turns out, Crawford should be returning to Chicago, but will Armando wait for him? And what if he isn't allowed to return to the conservatory? Can he be content staying in their small California town forever?

I really liked this one. It is a bit on the fluffy side at points, but it deals with some rather heavy material as well. I can see how some might see this as possibly not taking things seriously, but I think it offered a nice balance. I laughed, I cringed, I cried--it's one of those books, for sure. An excellent read for young and new adults, but a great one for those of us who aren't quite so new, too.… (mere)