Marley’s life is as precarious as an overfull water balloon—one false move and everything will burst. Her best friends are pulling away from her, and her parents, newly separated, have decided she should spend the summer with her dad in his new house, with a job she didn’t ask for and certainly doesn’t want. On the upside is a cute boy who loves dogs as much as Marley does . . . but young love has lots of opportunity for humiliation and misinterpreted signals. Luckily Marley is a girl who trusts her instincts and knows the truth when she sees it, making her an immensely appealing character and her story funny, heartfelt, and emotionally true.
A warm debut novel about friendship and first love.
* Kids struggling with the challenges of identifying what changes are necessary and paying the price for those thrust upon them will be glad to see an author who gets it. —Bulletin,starred review
“An achingly honest story about love, family, friends, and non-friends. (Spoiler alert: There's also an adorable boy with sky blue eyes . . . )”—Lauren Myracle, New York Times best-selling author ofttylandShine
“Vernick's writing is beautiful, her characters well-rounded and believable, and the coming of age situations and emotions are spot on.”—Kathryn Erskine, author of the National Book Award winnerMockingbird
“Tender and true, anchored by heartbreak and buoyed by love,Water Balloonis a sweet summertime celebration of the unforgettable moments that change everything. ”—Cynthia Leitich Smith,New York Timesbestselling-author ofTantalize, Eternal, andBlessed
“A funny, poignant, beautifully written story about family, first love, and the joy and pain of girls’ friendships, reminiscent of Lynne Rae PerkinsRlÓ
![Water Balloon [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/2/7/5/2_1350882.jpg)