Martinez, Jessica. The Vow.

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Martinez, Jessica.  The Vow.  Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse  2013  432p  ISBN 978-1-4424-8645-4    hs  E    Conflict   

Annie has been friends with Mo since fifth grade.  They truly “get” each other and share a rare boy/girl friendship that isn’t bogged down in hormones.  The summer before their senior year, Mo’s father loses the job that allowed him employment visa status and must move the family back to Jordan, their homeland. Mo, on track to go to Harvard, does not want to leave.  Annie can’t bear to lose her best friend and devises a plan for Mo to stay -- they only need to get married.  Annie’s struggle for independence from her overprotective parents (brought on by the disappearance and murder of an older sister a few years ago), her desire to protect Mo, and her budding romantic interest in another boy form the basis for this novel about maturing and setting personal goals.  This is an excellent book about friendship between the sexes that truly looks out for the best interests of both.  The ending, which is ambiguous about Annie’s future, is very appropriate and feels right.  Since this is an uncorrected proof (many grammatical problems need to be corrected, most glaringly on pages 68, 139 and 386) no Book-of-Note status can be given; yet the premise and writing style lean toward Book-of-Note.  A unique way to alternate the voices between chapters includes the use of a phrase from the end of one chapter/voice to start the next chapter/voice.  The characters are very authentic, and the cool book cover hints at the theme.             

Summary: Annie must choose between her best friend, Mo, who is the only one who doesn’t see her as the sister of a murdered girl, and a budding romance with a co-worker at the ice cream store.  This is a lovely story concerning immigration issues and the search for independence. Grades 7+     

Boy/girl friendships                                      --Lois McNicol