The Secret of a Heart Note

Mimosa has inherited an ultra-sensitive nose. Besides being able to smell people’s moods, she and her mother are skilled at mixing scents to create personalized aphrodisiacs for lovelorn clients. Growing weary of her cloistered life as one of the last aromateurs on Earth, Mimosa enrolls in public school but discovers that her private life and the high school social scene don’t blend as smoothly as the ingredients in her potions. The trouble begins when Mimosa’s algebra teacher requests an elixir that falls into the hands of the mother of popular soccer player Court Sawyer, who is, in turn, on his way to winning Mimosa’s heart. In this tantalizing book of contrasts—science and magic, ancient tradition and contemporary life, and seclusion and exploration, among them—Lee (Outrun the Moon) introduces a cast of memorable characters while tracing the external and internal conflicts of an engaging heroine. The book, a playful departure from Lee’s historical fiction, opens the door to many possible outcomes, and readers will be on the edge of their seats to find out how Mimosa’s snowballing dilemmas are resolved. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary. (Dec.)