Years ago, Clara survived a vicious bear attack. She’s used to getting sympathetic looks around town, but meeting strangers is a different story. Her dreams go far beyond Knik, Alaska, and now she’s got a secret—an acceptance letter from Columbia University. But it turns out her scars aren’t as fixable as she’d hoped, and when her boyfriend begins pressing her for a forever commitment, she has second thoughts about New York. Then Rhodes, a student teacher, presses her to acknowledge her talent for writing, and everything gets more confusing—especially her new feelings for him. Clara is forced to confront her problems and find her way to a decision. Will she choose the life of her dreams or the life others have chosen for her?
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Sexual Content - 3/5
3/5
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Violence - 0/5
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Language - 2/5
2/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
From: Carol Pennington
Book Title: Has to be Love
Book Author: Joleen Perry
What do you like about this book:
Clara was left with terrible scars as the result of a bear attack that took her mother’s life. The scars are not only external, but also internal. As she faces her senior year of high school, she has hopes of being “fixed” and dreams of becoming a writer and attending her Mother’s alma mater, Columbia University. A student teacher from Columbia arrives in her hometown and throws her into a state of confusion. In order to overcome, she must learn that her scars don’t define her.
I enjoyed this book set in a small town in Alaska. It is part romance and part coming of age. I felt some compassion for Clara, but I also wanted to take her by the shoulders and tell her to just get over it and move on. The friendship that was portrayed between her and Cecily was touching. There were not any actual sex scenes in the book, but there were a few scenes that were erotic and almost resulted in sex. There were also a few curse words in the book, but it wasn’t crude or vulgar. Therefore, I would not recommend this book for the young reader. I would recommend it for the young adult who enjoys coming of age books.