"Anatomy of Wings" by Karen Foxlee

Jenny was enamored with her older sister, Beth. Beth had grace, charm and beauty, and made everything appear effortless. In this novel, Jenny recounts their adolescence in a small, Australian mining town. Their neighbors and family watch Beth self-destruct, as she morphs from an innocent young girl into a mischievous delinquent. Spiraling out of control, Beth is earning an unfavorable reputation around town, and her parents are out of ideas on how to tame their wild daughter.

Beth dies from an accidental fall from the town’s water tower and the family is hit hard by grief. Jenny loses her singing voice, their spiritual grandmother becomes estranged from the family, and her parents are on the brink of splitting up. Someone in town knows what was going through Beth’s head before her untimely death. Jenny is determined to piece together the clues, relying on a box of Beth’s keepsakes.

Being a teenager doesn’t last forever, but it sure can feel permanent when you’re living it. Beth’s premature death is a reminder of the struggle of adolescence and the mindset of youth. This is a captivating coming-of-age novel, good for 8th grade and up.