A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

For those of us who still read and appreciate Young Adult fiction, here is a gift for you. My friend Teresa told me about this book on a recent hike in our Dominican neighborhood. Originally published in 2016, I listened to "A Thousand Boy Kisses" on audio, and I loved every minute of it. As far as YA fiction goes, this falls solidly into the tear-jerker category. Think "A Fault in Our Stars," or "Five Feet Apart." In this book, we meet Rune Kristiansen when, as a young boy, his family moves from their native Norway to Blossom Grove, Georgia. It is there he meets a precocious little girl named Poppy Litchfield. The two become fast friends, and as the years go by, their friendship turns into adolescent love. When his father announces they have to urgently return to Norway for his job, Rune is devastated. He can't stand the thought of not being with Poppy, and not seeing her every day. However, when she pledges to stay in touch, despite the distance, his hopes remain high. Yet, suddenly, as if from no where, Poppy cuts off all communication with him. When his family returns to Blossom Grove, he is a changed and broken young man, while Poppy remains quiet and aloof. They are desperate to find their way back to each other, but full of anger and fear, too. I was thrilled to discover that Netflix is now developing this into a movie. You are never too old to read YA fiction, especially when it is a book written as beautifully as this one. To buy this book on Amazon click here.