The Bridges of Summer: 9

Zarah Brown has spent most of her life in New York City, going to a private school, studying ballet, dreaming about her future career. But her irresponsible mother sends her off to South Carolina for the summer, with uncertain prospects for a return trip. On the tiny island of Domingo, Zarah comes face to face with her heritage: her grandmother Quanamina is the daughter of slaves, and has never been outside her Gullah community. Seabrooke ( Judy Scuppernong ) presents a compelling look at a rapidly disappearing way of life. But what may disturb readers is the fact that, even as Zarah gets to know her grandmother, the girl is driven essentially by ambition and selfishness. When the grandmother dies, Zarah ends up forging her signature and selling the island to an unscrupulous developer in order to get herself and her cousin back to New York. Her decision is meant to show Zarah's strength of character, but it may leave the reader wondering whether she really had to burn those bridges she crossed in going to her grandmother. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)