A Little Wanting Song

A summer of friendship, romance, and songs in major chords. . . .

CHARLIE DUSKIN loves music, and she knows shes good at it. But she only sings when shes alone, on the moonlit porch or in the back room at Old Guss Secondhand Record and CD Store. Charlies mom and grandmother have both died, and this summer shes visiting her grandpa in the country, surrounded by ghosts and grieving family, and serving burgers to the local kids at the milk bar. Shes got her iPod, her guitar, and all her recording equipment, but she wants more: A friend. A dad who notices her. The chance to show Dave Robbie that shes not entirely unspectacular.

ROSE BUTLER lives next door to Charlies grandfather and spends her days watching cars pass on the freeway and hanging out with her troublemaker boyfriend. She loves Luke but cant wait to leave their small country town. And shes figured out a way: shes won a scholarship to a science school in the city, and now she has to convince her parents to let her go. This is where Charlie comes in. Charlie, who lives in the city, and whom Rose has ignored for years. Charlie, who just might be Roses ticket out.

Told in alternating voices and filled with music, friendship, and romance, Charlie and Roses "little wanting song" is about the kind of longing that begins as a heavy ache but ultimately makes us feel hopeful and wonderfully alive.