Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Penguin, 2010. ISBN 9780141335346.
(Age 13+) Recommended.
New York City : 1929 : Summer = Glamour : Glitz : Excess + Danger : Corruption : Power
Cordelia and Letty share a dream. They both wish to escape from their drab, small and predictable home town of Union, Ohio. Letty seeks stardom and Cordelia wants to find her rich bootlegger father whom she hasn't seen since she was a baby. So together they set off for New York City to create futures of their own choosing.
They discover that beyond the facade of beauty and decorum there is danger and deceit. It is a city of excitement and bright lights and of course, opportunity, but knowing whom to trust is a struggle and remaining safe is equally treacherous.
This is a delightful read which provides a snapshot of an exciting, yet unpredictable time in history. Cordelia and Letty are resilient and strong, yet flawed characters who lead the reader on a journey into the exciting and extravagant times of New York City in 1929.
Sue Mann