Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Taylor Edwards has spent most of her life running away when things get hard. But now her father has pancreatic cancer and only a few months to live. Also, he has insisted that the family spend one last summer at their lake house all together. This time Taylor can’t run away. She also can’t avoid the friends in Lake Phoenix--the ones she betrayed by running away five years ago.

Forced to face her past mistakes, Taylor dreads a long and miserable summer. But when she faces her mistakes, Taylor learns that sometimes you get a second chance. Taylor is a typical teen character with the expected teen problems. Readers will relate to her struggles, but also grow in empathy as they read about the struggles of losing a family member. What appears at first glance to be a light, summer romance, Second Chance Summer also deals with deeper difficult issues in a thoughtful way.

Recommended ages--12 and up