Razzle

Before his junior year of high school, Kenyon Baker and his parents move to Cape Cod to run a summer cottage colony. Ken has to paint the cabins and supervise the plumber in return for living in his own cottage, where he can have a darkroom to print his photographs. The first kid his age he meets is Razzle Penney, named for Raziel, the Angel of Mysteries. Razzle is an offbeat character who works at the Swap Shop at the town dump. She becomes the subject of an inspiring series of photos that Ken takes.

When beautiful, boy-crazy Harley takes an interest in Ken, it causes a rift in his friendship with Razzle. It all comes to a head when Razzle's mother breezes into town and tells her more about her past than she wants to know.

Of Ellen Wittlinger's Hard Love, Booklist said, "Teenagers should be prepared to laugh, wince, rage, weep, and heave at least one deep sigh when they read this meaningful story." Readers of Razzle will find that description appropriate, too.