The Carnival at Bray

Maggie's mother forces the family to relocate from Chicago to Ireland when she gets married. The setting for this book is incredible: the windswept Irish coast and the 1993 grunge music scene will soak you in. Maggie starts out alone and desperate, missing her guitarist uncle Kevin, but she also befriends the local centenarian and begins to think she might be more than friends with Eoin. Mature situations and swoony romance make this title best for older teens, but Maggie's journey of grief and forgiveness makes for a compelling read.