Meg’s childhood flirtation with a boy on a neighboring estate turns to true love early on. And though she’s pledged her loyalty to Anne no matter what the test, Meg just might lose her greatest love-and her own life-because of it. Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling at first, but as Anne’s favor rises and falls, so does Meg’s. When Anne Boleyn’s star begins to ascend, of course she takes her best friend Meg Wyatt along for the ride. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons.Sandra Byrd takes readers back to the court of Henry the Eighth in a novel that imagines the life of Anne Boleyn’s best friend, a young woman whose fortunes depend on the queen’s. Island Girl is a shining beginnning to this new series, and I look forward to reading more of these touching stories. The book is not preachy, but presents a teen's point-of-view in learning about God. Many of her experiences relate her faith journey to the farm and growing fruit. She studies Bible verses, dealing with being a vine and with the fruits of the spirit. Readers will learn about things like a quincanera from Tina, and about running from Meg.Ī spiritual element comes into the story, because Meg is also trying to discover where she fits in with God. Tia is a fascinating character who brings an interesting dimension to the story. Her decision is one that more and more teens need to make these days, so it's easy to relate to the difficulty she has in choosing. Meg truly has a dilemma about where to live.

This is the first book in a great new series, Friends for a Season, in which girls from different backgrounds find common ground. Can the girls forge an understanding, if only for the summer? Everyone expects Meg and Tia to become fast friends, but their cultural differences seem to get in the way at every turn. The man comes from Mexico and his family is here for the summer, including his thirteen-year-old daughter Tia. Her grandfather has hired an overseer for the farm. When she arrives at her grandparents', Meg finds changes. Meg knows that, at the end of the summer, she needs to decide whether to live with her mom, or move to Oregon and help her dad take over the farm. Her mom and stepdad are expecting a baby, and Meg's dad is about to come to a decision about his military career. This summer promises to be the most interesting yet, because Meg has major changes ahead.

She enjoys being on their berry farm, far from her busy life in Seattle. Thirteen-year-old Meg likes spending summers with her grandparents on Sauvie Island, Oregon. Island Girl: Friends for a Season by Sandra Byrd

Island Girl by Sandra Byrd