It’s 1994: Grunge is all the rage, malls are the place to be, and Grow a Friend toys are just about to hit store shelves…
Born and raised in the middle of nowhere, thirteen-year-old Taylor jumps at the chance to move to the city of Kelowna with her big sister. She soon meets Mischa, a spunky goth girl with the confidence of a talk show host, and Alexander Charming, a TV-addicted prince who Taylor accidentally brings to life. High school is going to be more interesting than she imagined!
Just Add Water is a squeaky-clean fish out of water story that explores growth, family, and friendship. Full of 90s references and jokes, it takes readers back to a time when life felt less serious and celebrates the awkwardness of youth.
Reviews
"Just Add Water is the perfect upbeat early-teen dramedy to enjoy while listening to an old Spin Doctors CD and enjoying a handful of sour apple Jolly Ranchers. Ashley Good really captures the colorful and progressive vibe of the mid-nineties through rich descriptions, nostalgic pop culture references, and the changing attitudes highlighted in the novel. ... A quirky coming-of-age tale with a fantastical edge, Just Add Water is as fun and familiar as flipping through your old high school yearbook, but possibly with a better ending." - Indies Today
"Just Add Water is a fun romp that will appeal to young readers and possibly to their parents. It combines a traditional coming of age story with a touch of magic realism as the protagonist, Taylor, learns to fit in with a new community. ... The author brings each character to life, identifying their individuality in a manner that has the reader becoming totally involved with each and every one of them. ... It’s obvious the author has done an excellent job of researching Kelowna, its key areas and streets. Her descriptive aspects of the high school and shopping centers are so visual that one feels as if they are there. And anyone who remembers the 1990s will enjoy all of the pop culture." - Whistler Independent Book Awards