MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR

How many novels have such a cast of characters: A Red Sox addict who writes letters to his dead mother; his gay American-born Chinese “brother”; a love interest whose role model is Jacqueline Kennedy and who’s the daughter of the ambassador to Mexico; a young boy who thinks Mary Poppins is real; and a father romancing his son’s school adviser? Kluger’s foray into young-adult literature does, and it all works wonderfully in a modern-day tale of baseball, romance, Broadway musicals and even baseball at the Manzanar National Historic Site. Written in letters, instant messages, school assignments and e-mails, this romantic comedy is pure fun. T.C., Augie, Alejandra, Andy and others find that romance means learning to see with new eyes and becoming new under the influence of magic in the world. The many characters are well-drawn and believable, and readers will care about them. The innovative format works well in relating the multiple love stories, and the story ought to appeal to a wide range of readers. (Fiction. 12+)