About the Author

Ellen Wittlinger was the critically acclaimed author of the teen novels Parrotfish, Blind Faith, Sandpiper, Heart on My Sleeve, Zigzag, and Hard Love (an American Library Association Michael L. Printz Honor Book and a Lambda Literary Award winner), and its sequel Love & Lies: Marisol’s Story. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and an MFA from the University of Iowa. A former children’s librarian, she passed away in November 2022 at the age of seventy-four.

Reviews

As featured on New England Public Radio!

"The story is compelling and the characters nicely drawn. Wittlinger's many fans won't want to miss her latest." --Booklist

"Teenage best friends grapple with sudden loss in Wittlinger's...coming-of-age tale, [with] moments of true compassion, and lovely descriptions of the Cape." --Publishers Weekly

"Elements of tragedy, mystery, romance, and self-discovery are woven together effectively and fleshed out with memorable imagery. All of the primary characters are complex and well-developed.... An enjoyable and thought-provoking read that is sure to appeal to many teens." --School Library Journal

"The perfect...summer time beach read...a page turner. This is a great book for those looking for a light mystery for the summer. Wittlinger's fans will not be disappointed." --YA Books Central

"Author Ellen Wittlinger proves once again why she's a master of realistic fiction, creating believable dialogue, events and emotions, especially as Jackie must decide if she's still one of Lorna's pawns in the end." --Bookpage

"Local Girl Swept Away features a group of friends who are shaken when one of their members is swept out to sea. As in Broadchurch, a sense of possible hope on the horizon shines through." --Barnes & Noble Teen Blog

"Will leave readers with searching questions about what is right when dealing with a situation where there has been so much wrong. Fans of melodrama will get swept up in this." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books