The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart: As I was browsing an OBCZ in Westminster, Maryland, I happened upon this book. On the spine, instead of the title, are the words “For anyone who has ever lost or found a friend.” That piqued my interest enough to pull it off the shelf, but the BookCrossing label inside was what spurred me to take it with me. It’s not my usual type of book; it looked really glurgey. But for some reason, instead of simply passing it along, it stayed on my shelf.

The basic germ of the story is familiar: awkward teen meets troubled teen and they become best of friends. However, this friendship fell apart some eight years before. The story begins with Cameron receiving a letter from Sonia, completely out of the blue, asking her to be the Maid of Honor at her wedding. Cameron doesn’t reply, but her aging boss begins corresponding with Sonia behind Cameron’s back. After her boss passes away, he leaves Cameron a package to be delivered to Sonia – in person. Thus begins a tale of journeys and memories, weaving past and present together. The emotions are almost painfully realistic; I felt fierce sympathy for Cameron, and recalled with some sorrow the day the friendship died between my best friend and myself.

I wouldn’t say this book is for anyone who’s ever lost or found a friend, but for those who have known that sort of bond with another person, this can be an engrossing read. It helps that the descriptions of Boston and Texas are as vibrant as the emotions they invoke in the characters. I finished this one quickly, always wanting to turn the page, to find out if Cameron and Sonia ever find each other, or if Cameron returns to her nomadic existence forever.

Also posted on BookCrossing.