Splendor

Splendor is the sequel to Elana K. Arnold’s book, Sacred. This book takes often delicate subjects and gently wraps a passionate story around them. Religion, friendship, love, and finding oneself are just the tip of the iceberg and might leave you questioning some parts of your own life. Scarlett really is a normal teenager who is easy to relate too. Her parents have split, her boyfriend has gone off to college, and her friend doesn’t really seem to be her friend anymore. Turning to religion, she finds new hope in Kabbalah. She is trying to calm her mind, find answers, and just make it through her senior year.

Did I mention it is set on Catalina Island? Living on a small island south of Catalina, I could easily relate. It is often as if you feel you are cut off from the rest of the world and when you are an outsider and come in you are often viewed much as Scarlett viewed her friend after her trip to Amsterdam. I would highly recommend this heartfelt book.