Heaven Is Paved with Oreos by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (review)

At the end of her eighth-grade year, Sarah’s life is becoming complicated. She and her best friend, Curtis, have been faking coupledom because it keeps them from being teased about their friendship; now, though, the very pretty Emily is showing a strong interest in Curtis, and Curtis doesn’t want to have a fake girlfriend anymore. But if they are not fake boyfriend/girlfriend, can they still be best friends and work on science projects together? And why does it bother Sarah to think of Curtis and Emily together? When Sarah’s grandmother invites Sarah to go with her to Italy, Sarah is both scared and excited; her grandmother is wild and irresponsible, but Sarah appreciates the opportunity to get away from the fake boyfriend who seems to have really broken up with her. Sarah tells her story in the form of journal entries, and her voice is authentically tween as she tries to sort through the complicated turns her life is taking. The exploration of her relationship with her grandmother (who insists, much to Sarah’s dismay, that Sarah is just like her) is nuanced and reflective, allowing Sarah both to grow and to encounter complexities of adult romance that she’s not quite ready for. Murdock fans will be additionally delighted at Sarah’s friendship with D. J. Schwenk, protagonist of Dairy Queen (BCCB 9/06) and Curtis’ sister. Like D. J., Sarah is practical, witty, and observant, but she’s younger and more wide-eyed, while still being grumpy and eye-rolling enough to be utterly credible as a Midwestern tween. Give this to fans of Frances O’Roark Dowell and the younger siblings of those who enjoyed the Dairy Queen trilogy.