I had this book out on semi-permanent loan from the library as a sixteen-year-old, because few other books I'd read dealt quite so well with what it was to be a teenager in love: I adored the descriptions of Carlos's room and sympathised madly with Ella.

Coming back to it nine years later, there are definitely some notes that jar. I find Ella too young in outlook for someone as grown-up and independent as Carlos; and I think the racism aspect is handled clumsily. ( )